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A Right Royal Cozy Investigation #3
Not Mushroom For Death
Can Lady Beatrice clear her new beau's name or will Detective Chief Inspector Richard Fitzwilliam's hunch land Seb behind bars for murder?
CHEF LUCA MAZZA DIES AFTER COLLAPSE AT FOOD SHOW ON THE KING’S PRIVATE ESTATE
Luca Mazza (38), who was taken ill during a food demonstration at the Fenn House Food and Wine Festival two days ago, is now known to have ingested poison. Lady Beatrice (36), the king’s niece, who is working on a refurbishment project at Fenn House with her business partner Perry Juke (34), is believed to be comforting Luca’s boss and close friend Sebastiano Marchetti (38), who she began dating last month.
Is he crazy? Why else would Detective Chief Inspector Richard Fitzwilliam suggest that Sebastiano poisoned Luca without any evidence? So now, with the help of her little dog Daisy and her best friends Perry and Simon, amateur sleuth Lady Beatrice will have to prove to Mr Know-it-all Fitzwilliam that Seb is innocent. But with so many people having access to the food preparation area at the show how will she find out who did murder Luca before Fitzwilliam lets his personal dislike get the better of him and arrests Seb?
A page-turning, contemporary, clean, British cozy whodunnit with a hint of humour that you wouldn’t be able to put down.
CHEF LUCA MAZZA DIES AFTER COLLAPSE AT FOOD SHOW ON THE KING’S PRIVATE ESTATE
Luca Mazza (38), who was taken ill during a food demonstration at the Fenn House Food and Wine Festival two days ago, is now known to have ingested poison. Lady Beatrice (36), the king’s niece, who is working on a refurbishment project at Fenn House with her business partner Perry Juke (34), is believed to be comforting Luca’s boss and close friend Sebastiano Marchetti (38), who she began dating last month.
Is he crazy? Why else would Detective Chief Inspector Richard Fitzwilliam suggest that Sebastiano poisoned Luca without any evidence? So now, with the help of her little dog Daisy and her best friends Perry and Simon, amateur sleuth Lady Beatrice will have to prove to Mr Know-it-all Fitzwilliam that Seb is innocent. But with so many people having access to the food preparation area at the show how will she find out who did murder Luca before Fitzwilliam lets his personal dislike get the better of him and arrests Seb?
A page-turning, contemporary, clean, British cozy whodunnit with a hint of humour that you wouldn’t be able to put down.
352 pages, ebook
Published December 14, 2022
504 people are currently reading
3337 people want to read
About the author
Helen Golden
27 books104 followersHelen Golden spins crimes that are charmingly British, delightfully deadly, and served with a twist of humour.
With quirky characters, clever red herrings, and plots that keep the pages turning, she’s the author of the much-loved A Right Royal Cozy Investigation series, following Lady Beatrice and her friends—including one clever little dog—as they uncover secrets hidden in country houses and royal palaces. Her new historical mystery series, The Duchess of Stortford Mysteries, is set in Victorian England and introduces an equally curious sleuth from Lady Beatrice’s own family tree—where murders are solved over cups of tea, whispered gossip, and overheard conversations in drawing rooms and grand estates.
Helen lives in a quintessential English village in Lincolnshire with her husband, stepdaughter, and a menagerie of pets—including a dog, several cats, a tortoise, and far too many fish.
If you love clever puzzles, charming settings, and sleuths with spark, her books are waiting for you.
With quirky characters, clever red herrings, and plots that keep the pages turning, she’s the author of the much-loved A Right Royal Cozy Investigation series, following Lady Beatrice and her friends—including one clever little dog—as they uncover secrets hidden in country houses and royal palaces. Her new historical mystery series, The Duchess of Stortford Mysteries, is set in Victorian England and introduces an equally curious sleuth from Lady Beatrice’s own family tree—where murders are solved over cups of tea, whispered gossip, and overheard conversations in drawing rooms and grand estates.
Helen lives in a quintessential English village in Lincolnshire with her husband, stepdaughter, and a menagerie of pets—including a dog, several cats, a tortoise, and far too many fish.
If you love clever puzzles, charming settings, and sleuths with spark, her books are waiting for you.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
December 27, 2022
This book was super cute and a fun mystery to read. It kept me interested and actually got me out of a year long reading slump. The characters are people I now want as friends in real life. The chapters are nice and short so you feel like your flying through it and pleasantly surprised when you still have more to go. It is the third book in the series but it is the first I’ve read and I wasn’t confused at all by not reading the earlier books. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants something easy to pick up and get invested in yet also not confusing if life calls you back to participate.
July 21, 2024
Lady Bea and her dog Daisy find themselves mixed up in a mess of deadly mushrooms in a cooking show demo gone wrong. The inspector initially accuses Bea's new boyfriend, Seb, of committing the crime, and Bea is determined to prove him innocent, although untangling her feelings of his forward behavior complicates matters.
While the dialogue was a bit tiresome, and I didn't totally understand the importance of redecorating the house, I enjoyed the quirky and posh scenes that unfolded in this story. Sam and Daisy are the best characters, of course, but having gay best friends is always a pleasure in books like this. I don't know if I'm royalty-crazy enough to continue with this series (or go back to book 1, for that matter), but I certainly had a good time with this book.
While the dialogue was a bit tiresome, and I didn't totally understand the importance of redecorating the house, I enjoyed the quirky and posh scenes that unfolded in this story. Sam and Daisy are the best characters, of course, but having gay best friends is always a pleasure in books like this. I don't know if I'm royalty-crazy enough to continue with this series (or go back to book 1, for that matter), but I certainly had a good time with this book.
December 15, 2022
I have been a fan of Helen's work for a few weeks now. In fact I have been a fan ever since I had the good fortune to pick up a copy of the first book in the 'Right Royal Cozy Mystery' series which is called 'Spruced Up For Murder' and it was released in October 2022. Since then two further books in the series have been released and I have loved both of them. The most recent release is the third book in the series, which is called 'Not Mushroom For Death' and was released on 6th December 2022. It's another cracker of a read which I thoroughly enjoyed reading but more about that in a bit.
As soon as I started reading, I felt as though I had reunited with old friends in the form of Lady Beatrice, Perry, Simon and the other regular characters. I also felt as though the book had developed a holdover me and it was a hold that I wasn't willing to break. I started reading this story and found that I just couldn't stop reading. My Kindle wasn't exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it travelled everywhere with me. I couldn't bear to miss a single second of the story. I had developed my own theories as to what was going to happen so I had to keep reading to see if I had stumbled anywhere near the truth or if I had wobbled off in the opposite direction. the more of the book that I read, the more I wanted to read and the quicker the pages seemed to turn. All too quickly I reached the end of 'Not Mushroom For Death' and I had to say goodbye to Lady Beatrice, Perry, Simon and the rest of the gang. I found 'Not Mushroom For Death' to be a gripping cosy mystery, which certainly kept me guessing and it certainly kept me entertaineed.
'Not Mushroom For Death' is extremely well written but then I have come to expect nothing less from Helen Golden. Helen has one of those easy going writing style that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. In fact reading one of Helen's books feels more like a chat between friends rather than reading a book. I hope that makes sense. For me the story hit the ground running and maintains a steady pace throughout. Helen clearly cares about her characters and this shines through in the very vivid and realistic way in which she describes them. She makes her characters seem just as real as you and I. I love the way in which Helen has combined the drama and the humour. I love the way in which Helen makes the reader feel as though they are part of the story and at the heart of the action.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'Not Mushroom For Death' and I would certainly recommend this book to other readers. I will definitely be reading more of Helen's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
As soon as I started reading, I felt as though I had reunited with old friends in the form of Lady Beatrice, Perry, Simon and the other regular characters. I also felt as though the book had developed a holdover me and it was a hold that I wasn't willing to break. I started reading this story and found that I just couldn't stop reading. My Kindle wasn't exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it travelled everywhere with me. I couldn't bear to miss a single second of the story. I had developed my own theories as to what was going to happen so I had to keep reading to see if I had stumbled anywhere near the truth or if I had wobbled off in the opposite direction. the more of the book that I read, the more I wanted to read and the quicker the pages seemed to turn. All too quickly I reached the end of 'Not Mushroom For Death' and I had to say goodbye to Lady Beatrice, Perry, Simon and the rest of the gang. I found 'Not Mushroom For Death' to be a gripping cosy mystery, which certainly kept me guessing and it certainly kept me entertaineed.
'Not Mushroom For Death' is extremely well written but then I have come to expect nothing less from Helen Golden. Helen has one of those easy going writing style that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. In fact reading one of Helen's books feels more like a chat between friends rather than reading a book. I hope that makes sense. For me the story hit the ground running and maintains a steady pace throughout. Helen clearly cares about her characters and this shines through in the very vivid and realistic way in which she describes them. She makes her characters seem just as real as you and I. I love the way in which Helen has combined the drama and the humour. I love the way in which Helen makes the reader feel as though they are part of the story and at the heart of the action.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'Not Mushroom For Death' and I would certainly recommend this book to other readers. I will definitely be reading more of Helen's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
December 16, 2022
Oh no! When Chef Luca Mazza collaspes at the Food and Wine Festival it’s bad enough. Luca is an old friend of Chef Seb’s, and the two work together on multiple projects. But when it is found that Luca was poisoned, and dies as a result; it’s a shock to everyone at Fenn House. DCI Fitzwilliam and DS Spicer are sent to investigate, as Fenn House is the royal residence of King James, Lady Bea’s uncle. Due to the fact that Lady Bea has been dating Chef Seb, her protection detail is of course incredibly concerned to have a poisoning happen so close to her as well. Unfortunately, DCI Fitzwilliam’s personal dislike of Chef Seb gets Lady Bea’s back up, and so she and her ever helpful friends Perry Juke and Simon Lattimore are set to prove Seb’s innocence.
Not Mushroom For Death is the third book in the A Right Royal Cozy Investigation series, and while it stands nicely on its own; it’s a book best in context with the rest of the series. Now that the main characters are well established, the readers get to see some interesting personal growth as Lady Bea, Perry, Simon, and lady Bea’s son Sam all navigate the changes in their lives. Lady Bea struggles with her new relationship with Chef Seb, they’re nearly polar opposites; she introverted and press-phobic, he extroverted, almost too handsy, and loves the spotlight. The more she looks at their relationship, the more Bea struggles. After 14 years of being single, she’s not sure what to do, other than that she wants to be kind to a man who’s lost a friend and to prove his innocence. Perry, on the other hand, has to deal with his insecurities about his relationship with Simon. Even though they’ve been together for years, it worries Perry that he wants to be childfree, even though Simon is amazing with Sam.
I found Daisy, Lady Bea’s little Westie to be a pivotal character throughout the whole story, but the reader has to be sharp to pick up on her clues! Likewise, Sam, who has only had minor showing in the previous books gets a chance to shine and adds depth to the people around him. While I’m still on the fence regarding Bea’s relationship with her mother Princess Helen, it appears that they are mending the rift that occurred in the last book, For Richer, For Deader. I won’t lie, I’d love to see this series adapted to TV. It reminds me of some of my favorite BBC mystery shows.
This is a fantastic read! Set at a food festival, the author makes the reader’s mouth water with delightful descriptions and thirst for more! I loved the complicated relationships, the uncovering of lies and secrets, and the bittersweet ending to the mystery, which reminded me that not every case gets a tidy ending.
Not Mushroom For Death is the third book in the A Right Royal Cozy Investigation series, and while it stands nicely on its own; it’s a book best in context with the rest of the series. Now that the main characters are well established, the readers get to see some interesting personal growth as Lady Bea, Perry, Simon, and lady Bea’s son Sam all navigate the changes in their lives. Lady Bea struggles with her new relationship with Chef Seb, they’re nearly polar opposites; she introverted and press-phobic, he extroverted, almost too handsy, and loves the spotlight. The more she looks at their relationship, the more Bea struggles. After 14 years of being single, she’s not sure what to do, other than that she wants to be kind to a man who’s lost a friend and to prove his innocence. Perry, on the other hand, has to deal with his insecurities about his relationship with Simon. Even though they’ve been together for years, it worries Perry that he wants to be childfree, even though Simon is amazing with Sam.
I found Daisy, Lady Bea’s little Westie to be a pivotal character throughout the whole story, but the reader has to be sharp to pick up on her clues! Likewise, Sam, who has only had minor showing in the previous books gets a chance to shine and adds depth to the people around him. While I’m still on the fence regarding Bea’s relationship with her mother Princess Helen, it appears that they are mending the rift that occurred in the last book, For Richer, For Deader. I won’t lie, I’d love to see this series adapted to TV. It reminds me of some of my favorite BBC mystery shows.
This is a fantastic read! Set at a food festival, the author makes the reader’s mouth water with delightful descriptions and thirst for more! I loved the complicated relationships, the uncovering of lies and secrets, and the bittersweet ending to the mystery, which reminded me that not every case gets a tidy ending.
December 9, 2022
Barbara’s rating: 4 of 5 Stars
Series: A Right Royal Cozy Investigation #3
Publication Date: 12/14/22
Period: Contemporary
Number of Pages: 343
Lady Beatrice, Simon Lattimore, and Perry Juke are back at it again and totally at odds with Detective Chief Inspector Richard Fitzwilliam. If you’ve read the previous books, you know that Lady Beatrice and DCI Fitzwilliam always rub each other the wrong way.
There is a celebrity cooking event being held on the grounds of Fenn House, the king’s private estate in Fenshire. Lady Beatrice and her business partner Perry Juke are at the estate to refurbish several rooms of Fenn House while Sebastiano Marchetti (Chef Seb) is there to oversee the cooking event which features several celebrity chefs. If you read the second book in the series, you’ll know that Lady Beatrice and Chef Seb are dating. However, Chef Seb sees it as a much more serious relationship than Lady Beatrice does. For Lady Beatrice, the shine has begun to tarnish as she has gotten to know the chef better.
When celebrity chef Luca Mazza becomes ill at his demonstration and subsequently dies DCI Fitzwilliam has to investigate and decide if it is accidental or murder. All of his hopes of Lady Beatrice and her cronies staying out of his investigation evaporate when he boldly tells her that it must be Sebastiano who did it. Lady Beatrice, of course, was certain that Sebastiano didn’t do it and gleefully set about proving the obnoxious, overbearing Fitzwilliam wrong!
This was an interesting mystery with plenty of clues and dead ends to keep you wondering who did what to whom. Of course, the star of the story is Daisy, Lady Beatrice’s West Highland Terrier who is cute, lovable, bold, protective, and a great judge of character. I still don’t like Lady Beatrice’s mother, but she did come across as more likable in this story than she did in the last.
I can definitely recommend this book with its intriguing mystery along with the good humor and lively banter among the recurring players. Should you choose to read it, I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Series: A Right Royal Cozy Investigation #3
Publication Date: 12/14/22
Period: Contemporary
Number of Pages: 343
Lady Beatrice, Simon Lattimore, and Perry Juke are back at it again and totally at odds with Detective Chief Inspector Richard Fitzwilliam. If you’ve read the previous books, you know that Lady Beatrice and DCI Fitzwilliam always rub each other the wrong way.
There is a celebrity cooking event being held on the grounds of Fenn House, the king’s private estate in Fenshire. Lady Beatrice and her business partner Perry Juke are at the estate to refurbish several rooms of Fenn House while Sebastiano Marchetti (Chef Seb) is there to oversee the cooking event which features several celebrity chefs. If you read the second book in the series, you’ll know that Lady Beatrice and Chef Seb are dating. However, Chef Seb sees it as a much more serious relationship than Lady Beatrice does. For Lady Beatrice, the shine has begun to tarnish as she has gotten to know the chef better.
When celebrity chef Luca Mazza becomes ill at his demonstration and subsequently dies DCI Fitzwilliam has to investigate and decide if it is accidental or murder. All of his hopes of Lady Beatrice and her cronies staying out of his investigation evaporate when he boldly tells her that it must be Sebastiano who did it. Lady Beatrice, of course, was certain that Sebastiano didn’t do it and gleefully set about proving the obnoxious, overbearing Fitzwilliam wrong!
This was an interesting mystery with plenty of clues and dead ends to keep you wondering who did what to whom. Of course, the star of the story is Daisy, Lady Beatrice’s West Highland Terrier who is cute, lovable, bold, protective, and a great judge of character. I still don’t like Lady Beatrice’s mother, but she did come across as more likable in this story than she did in the last.
I can definitely recommend this book with its intriguing mystery along with the good humor and lively banter among the recurring players. Should you choose to read it, I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
December 16, 2022
Not Mushroom for Murder is the third book in the Right Royal Cozy Investigations series of books, which is fast becoming one of my favourites. This time, the death of renowned chef Luca brings Lady Rossex and her nemesis Fitzwilliam back into conflict. And by now, it really is only Lady Bea herself who's oblivious to the attraction between the pair of them, as she determines to clear the name of her beau, Seb, even though doubts about their relationship are growing in her mind.
As to be expected from this series, Perry, Simon, and Daisy are instrumental in helping Lady Bea solve the case, which is a particularly nasty and premeditated one, and while they're busy determining who's responsible, factoring in a tricky love pentagon (or something like that, I can't remember how many people are involved:)) there are also developments in Lady Bea's personal life and a few little snippets about the case all fans of the series will want solved, what really happened on THAT fateful night 14 years ago. I really enjoy the pesky online news outlet where we get all those juicy snippets of gossip, as well. It's a lovely touch.
Not Mushroom for Death is a mighty fine addition to this series. I've just preordered the prequel (will I get my answers?) and signed up for the mailing list. I'm becoming a fan of this writer and these characters, and that doesn't actually happen as often as you might think.
Fans of cozy crime will want to read this charming series, set at the fictional royal court of King James and Queen Olivia. Each story is well crafted, and while the solution to this one might have come to me sooner than others in the series, it was still a very thrilling end to a hugely enjoyable story.
As to be expected from this series, Perry, Simon, and Daisy are instrumental in helping Lady Bea solve the case, which is a particularly nasty and premeditated one, and while they're busy determining who's responsible, factoring in a tricky love pentagon (or something like that, I can't remember how many people are involved:)) there are also developments in Lady Bea's personal life and a few little snippets about the case all fans of the series will want solved, what really happened on THAT fateful night 14 years ago. I really enjoy the pesky online news outlet where we get all those juicy snippets of gossip, as well. It's a lovely touch.
Not Mushroom for Death is a mighty fine addition to this series. I've just preordered the prequel (will I get my answers?) and signed up for the mailing list. I'm becoming a fan of this writer and these characters, and that doesn't actually happen as often as you might think.
Fans of cozy crime will want to read this charming series, set at the fictional royal court of King James and Queen Olivia. Each story is well crafted, and while the solution to this one might have come to me sooner than others in the series, it was still a very thrilling end to a hugely enjoyable story.
December 13, 2022
Who doesn't love a punny title? It's one of the best things about cosy mysteries, and it certainly caught my attention. I hadn't read any of the others in the series but I am definitely planning to go back and check them out. By the way, the story works perfectly well as a standalone, I just want to know more about the key characters.
I'll be honest, I did wonder if this would be a historical cosy given the main character is a proper Lady but I loved that it was a contemporary tale with a made-up Royal family of its own.
Lady Beatrice, together with her business partner, the fantastic Perry Juke, is working on a refurbishment project for the King while a cooking event is taking place starring Chef Seb - Lady Bea's boyfriend - and a host of other chefs. When one of the main participants - Luca - takes ill and later dies, rumours of an unfortunate case of food poisoning run amok. And so begins the mystery. Had Luca been foraging and accidentally picked poisonous mushrooms? Did someone else plant the mushrooms in his dish? So many questions, so many suspects, and so many secrets.
Let me just say that Lady Bea's dog, Daisy knows the answer ;)
When it appears that Luca was murdered, Lady Bea's nemesis in the form of DCI Fitzwilliam is brought in to investigate. Now, these two, I understand, have met before in other cases and he is not keen on her meddling. Which means, that's the green light for her to "meddle" and solve the case before him. But will she? There's a frisson of romantic tension bubbling away here which only adds to the fun.
Aided and abetted by the marvellous duo of Perry and Simon, not forgetting the instinctive reaction of her dog, Daisy, what follows is an entertaining mystery, and a tongue-in-cheek view of royal gossip. (Timely, indeed ;) )
My only issue was the use of so many POVs which seemed to be used to reveal their inner thoughts and in so doing move the story forward. That said, each POV was presented with consistency and clarity. I loved the setting, the royal obligations to behave a certain way, and the inclusion of Lady Bea's son brought a touch of youthful exuberance to the story (although Perry has his fair share of that too) I loved the characters, their relationship with each other, the behind-the-scenes details of the royal rooms being refurbished... in fact, it was a most amusing and engaging read with the promise of more to come. I'll be back for more; I just need to catch up on the others in the series first.
I'll be honest, I did wonder if this would be a historical cosy given the main character is a proper Lady but I loved that it was a contemporary tale with a made-up Royal family of its own.
Lady Beatrice, together with her business partner, the fantastic Perry Juke, is working on a refurbishment project for the King while a cooking event is taking place starring Chef Seb - Lady Bea's boyfriend - and a host of other chefs. When one of the main participants - Luca - takes ill and later dies, rumours of an unfortunate case of food poisoning run amok. And so begins the mystery. Had Luca been foraging and accidentally picked poisonous mushrooms? Did someone else plant the mushrooms in his dish? So many questions, so many suspects, and so many secrets.
Let me just say that Lady Bea's dog, Daisy knows the answer ;)
When it appears that Luca was murdered, Lady Bea's nemesis in the form of DCI Fitzwilliam is brought in to investigate. Now, these two, I understand, have met before in other cases and he is not keen on her meddling. Which means, that's the green light for her to "meddle" and solve the case before him. But will she? There's a frisson of romantic tension bubbling away here which only adds to the fun.
Aided and abetted by the marvellous duo of Perry and Simon, not forgetting the instinctive reaction of her dog, Daisy, what follows is an entertaining mystery, and a tongue-in-cheek view of royal gossip. (Timely, indeed ;) )
My only issue was the use of so many POVs which seemed to be used to reveal their inner thoughts and in so doing move the story forward. That said, each POV was presented with consistency and clarity. I loved the setting, the royal obligations to behave a certain way, and the inclusion of Lady Bea's son brought a touch of youthful exuberance to the story (although Perry has his fair share of that too) I loved the characters, their relationship with each other, the behind-the-scenes details of the royal rooms being refurbished... in fact, it was a most amusing and engaging read with the promise of more to come. I'll be back for more; I just need to catch up on the others in the series first.
December 28, 2022
Lady Beatrice has a new refurbishment project but is also trying to support her celebrity chef boyfriend's food festival. Events take a sinister turn when another chef collapses on stage at the festival, dying a few hours later from deadly mushroom poisoning...
Not Mushroom For Death is the third book in a wonderful cosy murder mystery series featuring Lady Bea, a member of the royal family, alongside her business partner Perry Juke.
The death of Luca Mazza is not declared a murder until halfway through the book. At first it appears he must have ingested the poisonous mushrooms by accident or by his own intent. One person thinks it is murder from the start: Fitzwilliam, the police officer who is the bane of Bea's life.
Fitzwilliam suspects Bea's boyfriend of the crime but has no evidence. Bea is determined to prove Seb's innocence to spite her nemesis but she gradually sees a different side to Seb. Of utmost importance is his awful attitude to her beloved dog Daisy!
There are plenty of suspects and suspicious behaviour for Bea and Perry to investigate. The motive isn't revealed until the end but several people had the opportunity and knowledge of murderous mushrooms to have committed the crime. I loved the animosity and simmering attraction between Bea and Fitzwilliam as they lock horns frequently thoughout the book.
Not Mushroom For Death is a great addition to the series and I loved the mix of the personal relationships alongside the murder mystery.
Not Mushroom For Death is the third book in a wonderful cosy murder mystery series featuring Lady Bea, a member of the royal family, alongside her business partner Perry Juke.
The death of Luca Mazza is not declared a murder until halfway through the book. At first it appears he must have ingested the poisonous mushrooms by accident or by his own intent. One person thinks it is murder from the start: Fitzwilliam, the police officer who is the bane of Bea's life.
Fitzwilliam suspects Bea's boyfriend of the crime but has no evidence. Bea is determined to prove Seb's innocence to spite her nemesis but she gradually sees a different side to Seb. Of utmost importance is his awful attitude to her beloved dog Daisy!
There are plenty of suspects and suspicious behaviour for Bea and Perry to investigate. The motive isn't revealed until the end but several people had the opportunity and knowledge of murderous mushrooms to have committed the crime. I loved the animosity and simmering attraction between Bea and Fitzwilliam as they lock horns frequently thoughout the book.
Not Mushroom For Death is a great addition to the series and I loved the mix of the personal relationships alongside the murder mystery.
November 27, 2022
A celebrity chef collapses at the Fenn house food and drink festival. He had been feeling off for a couple of days but thought he would be able to get through the demonstration. He is taken to hospital where it is ascertained that he has been poisoned by a deadly mushroom. He is the friend of Lady Beatrice's boyfriend Seb who is rather getting on her nerves as he appears to be courting the press and grabbing her, not the kind of treatment she is used to, having been single for fourteen years since the death of her husband James. It appears that the poisoning took place during the run through for the demonstration. Beatrice cannot believe that Seb could have done it so is out to prove his innocence and find the real culprit.
I really enjoy reading these books, they are a wonderful light-hearted break from the usual type of crime reads. The characters are easy to take to and there is humour interspersed through a well thought out plot line which keeps the pages easily turning. This is part of a series but will stand alone as the characters very easily fall into place and each one is a different mystery centred around Bea and her sidekick Perry. A wonderful light-hearted read to really enjoy.
I really enjoy reading these books, they are a wonderful light-hearted break from the usual type of crime reads. The characters are easy to take to and there is humour interspersed through a well thought out plot line which keeps the pages easily turning. This is part of a series but will stand alone as the characters very easily fall into place and each one is a different mystery centred around Bea and her sidekick Perry. A wonderful light-hearted read to really enjoy.
December 15, 2022
Another brilliant "Right Royal Cozy Investigation"-a great read
Trying to discover who used the fungi for the fatal deed!
With Lady Beatrice and her best friends, Simon and Perry,
You just know their search for clues will be merry.
I am really a fan of the series and enjoyed this book, too,
With an intriguing murder mystery and lots for them to do.
There's also Lady Bea's romance - is it off or on?
One things for certain, Daisy - and Fitzwilliam - want Seb to be gone!
With journalists on the look out for a royal romance
Should Bea really give Seb yet another chance?
With this mushroom laden recipe causing Luca to die
Can Bea and crew discover who the killer is and why?
Another action packed story, with chefs cooking up some treats
But has the killer mixed the ingredients up just too neat?
Can the trio help solve yet another fatal crime
And keep safe whilst doing so this time?
Will Fitzwilliam and Bea continue to annoy each other?
Who will the killer finally discover?
The banter, the food, the search for the clues
Any future books in this brill series I'll never refuse!
For my complementary copy of this book, I say thank you,
What a fantastic read - and this is my honest review.
Trying to discover who used the fungi for the fatal deed!
With Lady Beatrice and her best friends, Simon and Perry,
You just know their search for clues will be merry.
I am really a fan of the series and enjoyed this book, too,
With an intriguing murder mystery and lots for them to do.
There's also Lady Bea's romance - is it off or on?
One things for certain, Daisy - and Fitzwilliam - want Seb to be gone!
With journalists on the look out for a royal romance
Should Bea really give Seb yet another chance?
With this mushroom laden recipe causing Luca to die
Can Bea and crew discover who the killer is and why?
Another action packed story, with chefs cooking up some treats
But has the killer mixed the ingredients up just too neat?
Can the trio help solve yet another fatal crime
And keep safe whilst doing so this time?
Will Fitzwilliam and Bea continue to annoy each other?
Who will the killer finally discover?
The banter, the food, the search for the clues
Any future books in this brill series I'll never refuse!
For my complementary copy of this book, I say thank you,
What a fantastic read - and this is my honest review.
December 24, 2022
Luca Mazza (38), who was taken ill during a food demonstration at the Fenn House Food and Wine Festival two days ago, is now known to have ingested poison. Lady Beatrice (36), the king’s niece, who is working on a refurbishment project at Fenn House with her business partner Perry Juke (34), is believed to be comforting Luca’s boss and close friend Sebastiano Marchetti (38), who she began dating last month.
Is he crazy? Why else would Detective Chief Inspector Richard Fitzwilliam suggest that Sebastiano poisoned Luca without any evidence? So now, with the help of her little dog Daisy and her best friends Perry and Simon, Lady Beatrice will have to prove to Mr Know-it-all Fitzwilliam that Seb is innocent. But with so many people having access to the food preparation area at the show how will she find out who did murder Luca before Fitzwilliam lets his personal dislike get the better of him and arrests Seb?
This is a good mystery. Although it is long it has a good mystery. I don't know if it was a part of the story but I feel like the best way affects my opinion of this book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Is he crazy? Why else would Detective Chief Inspector Richard Fitzwilliam suggest that Sebastiano poisoned Luca without any evidence? So now, with the help of her little dog Daisy and her best friends Perry and Simon, Lady Beatrice will have to prove to Mr Know-it-all Fitzwilliam that Seb is innocent. But with so many people having access to the food preparation area at the show how will she find out who did murder Luca before Fitzwilliam lets his personal dislike get the better of him and arrests Seb?
This is a good mystery. Although it is long it has a good mystery. I don't know if it was a part of the story but I feel like the best way affects my opinion of this book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 28, 2022
I have been a fan of Helen Golden’s writing ever since I had been blessed with an advanced readers copy of the first book in the 'Right Royal Cozy Mystery' series which is called 'Spruced Up For Murder'. The most recent release that we’re talking about today is the third book in the series, which is called 'Not Mushroom For Death' and was just released.
Just as soon as I started reading, I realized it was like as though I had reunited with old friends; Lady Beatrice, Perry, Simon just to name a few of the returning characters. I found that having started reading this story and found that I just couldn't stop reading till the end. I read the book in one sitting. It is that good! I recommend this book it is a must read!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Just as soon as I started reading, I realized it was like as though I had reunited with old friends; Lady Beatrice, Perry, Simon just to name a few of the returning characters. I found that having started reading this story and found that I just couldn't stop reading till the end. I read the book in one sitting. It is that good! I recommend this book it is a must read!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 14, 2022
A celebrity chef comes to grief at a cooking event, and Lady Bea, Perry and Simon are compelled to investigate despite the opposition of DCI Fitzwilliam. This cosy mystery has intrigue, a great dynamic between amateur sleuths, a lavish English setting, and many suspects and false leads. It's contemporary, with good mystery elements and many humorous instances that make this a lighthearted cosy read. It's readable as a standalone, but it is an engaging series worth reading. I like the original contemporary setting, the characters and the cosy mystery style.
I received a copy of this book from the author.
I received a copy of this book from the author.
December 15, 2022
Another entertaining and light cozy mystery. It can be read as a stand alone as the author did a good job in explaining the back story without spoilering the solution of the previous novels.
The characters are fleshed and well rounded, Daisy the dog is the star of the show and I loved this clever dog. The humans are fleshed out and likeable.
The mystery is solid and kept me hooked and guessing.
A good series, well plotted and compelling.
Recommended.
Many thanks to Helen Golden and Rachel's Random Resources for this digital copy, all opinions are mine
The characters are fleshed and well rounded, Daisy the dog is the star of the show and I loved this clever dog. The humans are fleshed out and likeable.
The mystery is solid and kept me hooked and guessing.
A good series, well plotted and compelling.
Recommended.
Many thanks to Helen Golden and Rachel's Random Resources for this digital copy, all opinions are mine
January 29, 2023
2023 bk 33. During the food festival held at her Uncle's estate one of the chefs dies while doing a demo. A friend of Bea's current beau, Bea and the guys get involved. As it was a royal estate and Bea is involved, FitzWilliam is back. The clue distribution was more even handed in this title and the mystery itself stronger with multiple strong possibilities. I greatly enjoyed the setting, although a few more looks at the decorating tasks always make me happy. An excellent way to end the day - a good cozy to read with handy cheese and crackers to snack on (no mushrooms).
February 11, 2023
4.5 stars, rounded up
This is the third book in the series and although readers would benefit from knowing the characters they would be able to jump in without missing key components.
The mystery brings a bit of everything. It's fun, a little silly, and very punny (see what I did there?). The characters are charming and you can't help but want to find out more about them. I enjoyed this book cover to cover and this series in quickly becoming one of my favourites.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is the third book in the series and although readers would benefit from knowing the characters they would be able to jump in without missing key components.
The mystery brings a bit of everything. It's fun, a little silly, and very punny (see what I did there?). The characters are charming and you can't help but want to find out more about them. I enjoyed this book cover to cover and this series in quickly becoming one of my favourites.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 22, 2022
This is not my usual genre... But holy cow I loved every second of this book. From the dry humor of the characters to the adorable dog who gets entirely too many treats from her humans table. The mystery kept you guessing and open minded and while the entourage of characters was long it was not confusing to follow. I am extremely excited to read the prequel and also see what shenanigans this group gets into next. 10\10
December 30, 2022
Another masterpiece delivered by Helen Golden. As I keep reading more books in this series, Simon, Perry, Lady Rossex, Daisy and every other recurring character feel like they are my neighbors. I love reading about their stories, and Golden actually brings her characters to life. The story is well-paced, and a page-turner. I would recommend that you read her books in chronological order, as there is immense effort that the author has put in character development.
Lady Rossex’s friendship with Simon and Perry is beautiful, and I always love reading about it. The author is building up towards DCI Fitzwilliam and Lay Rossex’s romance, and I think I am going to pump my fist in the air when it happens. I am excited to see how Helen tackles it in her further books.
As always, a definite recommendation for cozy mystery lovers. This is a “sofa recliner, throw pillow, throw blanket, and wine” book.
Lady Rossex’s friendship with Simon and Perry is beautiful, and I always love reading about it. The author is building up towards DCI Fitzwilliam and Lay Rossex’s romance, and I think I am going to pump my fist in the air when it happens. I am excited to see how Helen tackles it in her further books.
As always, a definite recommendation for cozy mystery lovers. This is a “sofa recliner, throw pillow, throw blanket, and wine” book.
January 2, 2023
this was another great entry in the Right Royal Cozy Investigation series, it does a great job in telling the story and it was what I was looking for. The characters worked in this universe and it worked with the previous two books. Helen Golden has a great writing style and it left me wanting to read more from her.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 7, 2022
I must say that I enjoyed this more than Spruced up for Murder by Helen Golden. A great bunch of characters and I warmed more to Lady Beatrice this time but my favourite is Daisy the dog! This story involves chefs and mushrooms. Most of the chapters were quite short so I found this easy to put down and pick up without losing my place. I couldn’t be sure which way the outcome was going to be and liked the twists that were throughout the book.
December 30, 2022
Luca was doing a food demonstration at the Fenn House Food and Wine Festival and became suddenly very ill. The police now know that Luca was poisoned and start investigating. This book is part of a series but you can definitely read as a stand alone but I would recommend reading the entire series. I love the characters and it is a great plot and mystery.
January 1, 2023
I loved this story. The characters are fun. I adored Lady Beatrice. The victim Luca was an interesting one. I liked Helen's storyline. It felt so well written. The characters jump off the page with realism. It was really entertaining.
I received a complimentary copy of this book by Booksprout and I freely left this review.
I received a complimentary copy of this book by Booksprout and I freely left this review.
January 8, 2024
An entertaining story
I liked the unusual story line about a Royal Family member who enjoyed acting as an amateur sleuth. She had two gay friends who were also amateur detectives. I liked the characters who were so well rounded that they felt real. The balance of humour and drama was perfect.
I liked the unusual story line about a Royal Family member who enjoyed acting as an amateur sleuth. She had two gay friends who were also amateur detectives. I liked the characters who were so well rounded that they felt real. The balance of humour and drama was perfect.
December 31, 2022
Third in the series, thoroughly enjoyed it, I devoured this book over 2 days. I can't wait to read the next one in the series.
I was lucky enough to get a free advanced readers copy and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
I was lucky enough to get a free advanced readers copy and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 4, 2023
Great Story
I found this a very well-written book, as are all of Helen's books.
Our group of regular characters are right on in their investigation of a chef's death. Will Lady Bea and Fitzwilliam ever realize what Daisy is trying to tell them.
I found this a very well-written book, as are all of Helen's books.
Our group of regular characters are right on in their investigation of a chef's death. Will Lady Bea and Fitzwilliam ever realize what Daisy is trying to tell them.
March 20, 2023
The mystery here was a little less interesting, and this book in the series seemed a bit rushed, but still a good read and a clear set up for the next book, where i hope we find out the real story behind the death of Beatrice’s husband.
August 27, 2023
A British Whodunit
This was a fast read that kept me unsure of the murderer's identity until the very end. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is that I thought the large number of suspects created a little confusion. Regardless, I still enjoyed this book.
This was a fast read that kept me unsure of the murderer's identity until the very end. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is that I thought the large number of suspects created a little confusion. Regardless, I still enjoyed this book.
January 21, 2023
Another success for Helen Golden! Her plots are plausible; and Lady Beatrice, Perry and Simon are characters that I enjoy even more the better I get to know them.
August 25, 2023
Entertaining
A well-known chef dies a prolong and painful death after ingesting poison mushrooms at a cooking demonstration. The food festival has several noted chefs and is being filmed in front of a large public audience on Royal Grounds. There are numerous suspects and motives. Lady Bea, her little dog and her design firm partner and his mate set out to solve this complicated murder.
A well-known chef dies a prolong and painful death after ingesting poison mushrooms at a cooking demonstration. The food festival has several noted chefs and is being filmed in front of a large public audience on Royal Grounds. There are numerous suspects and motives. Lady Bea, her little dog and her design firm partner and his mate set out to solve this complicated murder.
December 12, 2022
Really enjoyed this cozy mystery. Loved the characters and the concepts. Look forward to reading many more of her books. Please check out this author!
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