This is billed as top chef meets knives out and it really intrigued me since I love both. I didn't really feel like it was a locked room mystery but it was close. I also didn't feel like the cooking aspect was super relevant to the story. It was there to include recipes and a setting but didn't contribute to the story as much as I would have expected. The mystery aspect was really interesting, I kind of predicted the solution but it all panned out in an unexpected way which was interesting. There were a lot of characters but we didn't get a full view of them since most of them were just here to be additional suspects. I felt there were a few loose ends that weren't wrapped up but I wasn't so invested that I felt let down by this. Overall it was a fun read and the mystery aspect was good but don't go in expecting a lot of character development.

Thanks to Netgalley, Orlando Murrin and Kensington Publishing and RB media

I'm the target audience for this as an Anglophile, mystery lover, and fan of the Great British Baking Show. But I'm so tired of plot twists that are just too, too much.



Review copy provided by publisher.

"Knife Skills for Beginners" by Orlando Murrin is a gripping culinary mystery that follows Paul, a chef grappling with loss, who agrees to teach a class at a renowned cooking school. Things take a sinister turn when Paul’s friend Christian—who convinced him to step in—ends up dead under mysterious circumstances. What starts as a simple teaching job quickly escalates into a murder investigation, with Paul trying to solve the crime while navigating the suspicion surrounding him.

The concept of a chef becoming an amateur detective is an intriguing one, and the plot keeps readers hooked. What begins as a lighthearted culinary drama swiftly morphs into a suspense-filled mystery. Initially, Paul’s reasons for getting involved in solving the crime aren’t clear, but as the tension builds and he becomes a suspect, his motivations begin to make sense.

The characters are generally well-crafted, with Paul standing out due to the emotional complexity of his grief. However, the students in the class feel more like plot devices than fully realized characters, which is a bit of a missed opportunity. That said, the setting is wonderfully atmospheric—the old cooking school building adds just the right mix of charm and eerie tension.

Murrin’s writing is smooth, though there are moments, particularly in the scenes between Paul and the students, where the pacing slows down. Tightening up these sections could improve the overall flow of the story. While the themes of grief and trust are woven into the narrative, they could be explored more thoroughly in future installments of the series.

The audiobook performance by Sebastian Humphreys is top-notch, bringing the story to life with a rich vocal delivery that heightens the suspense and emotional depth.

If you enjoy culinary mysteries with a good mix of heart and intrigue, this book is definitely worth checking out. It sets the stage for what promises to be an exciting and captivating series.

A book that should be on every "Knives Out' fan's TBR. I have recommended it to several people who have loved that movie and/or "Everyone in My Family has Killed Someone." Very enjoyable, great voice.

First a huge thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for allowing me to read this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. I absolutely loved this book and flew through it. Paul is an extremely lovable character and I was so attached to him and the weird crew of the students. I often find that there is not a lot of nuance when it comes to these amateur sleuths’ and the killers’ morality, but that wasn’t the case at all with the victim or killer in this book. The diary and the recipes were devices I have seen before, but they had never worked great for my investment in a book. This book, though, used the devices in a way that definitely added to the narrative instead of distracting from the story. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series!

3.5 🌟

"Knife Skills for Beginners" by Orlando Murrin is a captivating culinary mystery centred on Paul, a grieving chef who steps in to teach a course at a prestigious cooking school. Things take a dark turn when his friend Christian—who encouraged him to fill in—is found murdered. Suddenly, Paul is not just teaching knife skills; he's trying to solve a murder while keeping himself out of trouble.

The premise of a chef turned amateur detective is refreshing, and the plot is engaging. It begins as a cozy culinary drama but quickly evolves into a tense whodunit. At first, Paul's motivations for getting involved in the investigation seem unclear. Still, they become more logical as the stakes rise, and he becomes a suspect.

The characters are generally well-developed. Paul stands out with his emotional baggage and grief, adding depth to his character. However, I wish the students in the cooking class were more fleshed out, as they mainly serve to advance the plot. On a positive note, the setting is superb: the cooking school, housed in an old, atmospheric building, creates a perfect blend of cozy and ominous.

Murrin's writing is smooth and engaging. While the pacing is good, some scenes—particularly Paul's interactions with the students—drag a bit. Streamlining these sections would improve the overall flow. Themes of grief and trust are present but could be explored more deeply; I am hopeful that future books will flesh them out further.

Sebastian Humphreys delivers an excellent performance in the audiobook narration, infusing it with personality and maintaining the tension throughout. His voice work significantly enhanced the listening experience for me.

If you enjoy culinary mysteries infused with emotional depth and a side of suspense, this book is definitely worth a read. It's a solid start to what promises to be an exciting series!

This book is now available for purchase! Thank you to Orlando Murrin, RBmedia, Recorded Books, and NetGalley for the ARC!

Murrin ( a Brit chef) has crafted a very decent debut about a chef who helps out a celebrity chef and ends up knee deep in the soup. Touches of humor lighten the story and I found myself thoroughly enjoying this clever Who-Done-It. A quick, fun mystery, and a perfect after the holidays read. Audiobook Narrator Sebastian Humphreys does a super job!

An entertaining book that was a great balance of fun cooking skills and suspenseful whodunnit. I would recommend!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am amazed it is a debit novel! I hope this author continues with this as a series because I loved the main character and found him to be hilarious. Even though this was a culinary school, not a competition there was an edge between the students and it was fun to read. I loved the little culinary tips and recipes (I always tell people to keep their knives out of the dishwasher!) and I thought it rounded out the story in a fun way. I did feel that the vague lurking character of Johnny was unnecessary with all the other stuff, he didn't add anything to the story and wasn't even a particularly good red herring.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author Orlando Murrin, and Recorded Books for my copy of this audiobook.

Knife Skills for Beginners was a wonderful mystery. I thoroughly enjoyed it. This book follows Paul Delamare. He's a chef who is asked by another chef, a celebrity chef and his friend, Christian, to run a class at The Chester Square Cookery School in London. Paul agrees to do it. Soon enough, Christian ends up dead. Paul is a suspect. But he didn't do it. He is determined to find out who did.

This book was so good. I definitely didn't figure it out, though the clues were there. Orlando Murrin does a great job of keeping you guessing as the suspects each have a motive. More people end up hurt or dead. The entire time, I was trying to figure out who did it and I could not. What I did figure out is that Murrin is an excellent writer and the book was a good who-done-it.

In additional the good writing and solid character development, the narration was fantastic. There was one female character voice that I didn't care for, but overall, it was a really well-narrated book. This book is great and if you love cozy mysteries with a little Knives Out thrown in, you will definitely enjoy it.

This was an intriguing mystery. I enjoyed the kitchen setting and the tips on how to sharpen knives and other tidbits that were thrown in. The characters were interesting and the suspects plentiful, which were difficult to keep track of at times. The recipes sounded tasty but were presented within the story so it took me out of it a few times, ruining the flow. I much prefer recipes in the back that I can find easily rather than in the middle of a chapter. I will admit that my mind wandered frequently during this one and it didn’t really hold my interest. The characters, particularly Paul, were not well fleshed out so you don’t’ connect to them. I may continue with the series if there is another one but found this one just so-so.

I liked it, liked the end. Loved the cooking aspect of it. Great for a debut novel but it was hard to fully pay attention and a lot going on at once.

Yes, this book was written by a TV chef. Apparently he was on Masterchef—I’ve never seen it. But unless he used a very secret ghostwriter, he did a good job! I truly have no idea why the ratings for this book are so low coming out of the UK*, or why the cozy mystery people have not come flocking (though this isn’t a cozy, it does have strong food elements, which those noodleheads** go apeshit over)***.

*It was first published in the UK 2/1/24, but it wasn’t released in the US until 12/24/24.

**affectionate

This book follows Paul, a chef who is in mourning over the death of his partner, Marcus, ten months before. His old friend Christian, a celebrity chef now, hits him up to teach a cooking course at a stayaway cooking school in a fancy old house; Christian can’t fulfill his duties this session as he now has a broken arm and cannot wield a knife, and whatever else would be required of him whilst prepping the foods. Paul takes to teaching the class with gusto, but he and all of his students get a nasty shock when Christian is found murdered early in the week, and it seems that one of the students might be the murderer.

It’s slightly unclear why exactly Paul starts investigating everyone, poking into backstories, and delving out secrets, but he does feel betrayed by his old friend, who it seems he didn’t really know as well as he thought he did. Also, he is a suspect as well, and in a mystery, there is no better motivation for solving a murder than proving your own self innocent.

I did listen to the audio for this, and it was highly enjoyable. Sebastian Humphreys is the narrator, and he did a lovely job.

***Further investigation has unearthed that it’s a combo of people feeling that the author/character was “too highbrow” for them, or they felt “patronized to.” And that the last 25% of the book was rushed and didn’t fit the tone of the first part, which I agree with, but wasn’t a huge ding for me. These people did not have an audiobook and were reading by e-reader. I think readers who listen to this by audio will not have a hard time with either of these things (the emoji texts are completely gone, and we just get mentions that his friend Julie sends them). As for the highbrow complaint in general, some people are smarter than you, and you shouldn’t take it personally. He wasn’t being a dick, he was just being himself.

My biggest issue with this, and why it’s not getting a full four stars, is that I did feel the ending tone went a bit too thrillery for what had come before. I would have much preferred a quieter confrontation. The perilous one we got didn’t do much for the story.

This is actually going to be a series, but I’m not sure I will want to read the rest. I guess we’ll see what I do when it becomes available. (A chef not cheffing but still solving mysteries? Kinda weird. Although I would like to see how the conflict with his stepson turns out, and if he is able to move on from his grief over his partner’s death, and I’m too curious for my own good.)

[3.5 stars, rounded up]

I really enjoyed this book. I think the setting is unique. There is an extensive cast of characters which can be a bit confusing at times. But they all serve the story and work in many instances as comedic relief. Paul as a chef and impromptu detective is believable and interesting to watch. Even in a moment of mortal peril he has time to criticize a wine pairing. I love him as the main character. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Paul is an out of work chef that has been offered a position to take over a cooking class when his friend Christian breaks his arm and is unable to teach. Paul accepts and takes over the class when shortly after Christian is found dead with a meat cleaver sticking out of him. With a school full of suspects, including Paul, who is the killer?

I enjoyed this cozy mystery. You can tell the author has a background in food and adds to the story telling. I liked most the characters, but there are a lot of characters in this whodunit. Some parts did start to drag a bit, and it could have been edited down a bit. Narrator was good and handled the large character list well.

Thank you to Netgalley and RBmedia for the audiobook for review.