The Country Inn Mystery

by Faith Martin

From multi-million-selling Faith Martin, one of Britain’s best-loved mystery writers.Meet Jenny travelling cook and reluctant amateur sleuth.Jenny Starling is working at picturesque Spindlewood Inn in the Cotswolds for the weekend. It’s hosting a Regency Extravaganza, involving historical costume, amateur dramatics and food. A recipe for murder?Leading actress and reputed man-eater Rachel Norman portrays a doomed noblewoman. But when she turns up actually drowned in the pond, there’s suddenly a murder to investigate.There’s been plenty of trouble at the idyllic country inn. The performers weren’t a happy troupe, and Jenny discovers a simmering romantic tension.Who wanted Rachel dead and why? Has Jenny Starling bitten off more than she can chew this time?This delightful cozy mystery series is perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, LJ Ross, Richard Osman, the Rev Richard Coles, Janice Hallett, Fiona Leitch and Veronica Heley.Readers love The Country Inn ‘Lots of twists to keep you reading until the end.’ Judy‘Highly recommended!’ Anna Maria‘For those who haven't read the earlier books, wherever Jenny goes, murder is sure to be on the menu!’ ReneeMEET THE AMATEUR SLEUTHIn her late twenties, Jenny Starling is an impressive woman. Physically, she stands at 6ft 1inch, and has shoulder-length black hair and blue eyes. Curvaceous and sexy, she’s a modern single woman, living the lifestyle that suits her — that of a travelling cook. Her famous (and now very rich) father, is a ‘celebrity’ cook, divorced from Jenny’s mother. Jenny drives a disreputable cherry-red van, and is happy travelling the country catering events and cooking great food. She is on a one-woman mission to bring back ‘real’ food. She finds crime very distracting, especially when there is chocolate to temper or pike to poach. Nevertheless, she is adept at reading people, and with a quick and agile brain, becomes very good at unmasking killers. And her always-undaunted sense of humour goes a long way in keeping her sane when all around her people are dropping like flies.TRAVELLING COOK MYSTERIESBook 1: THE BIRTHDAY MYSTERYBook 2: THE WINTER MYSTERYBook 3: THE RIVERBOAT MYSTERYBook 4: THE CASTLE MYSTERYBook 5: THE OXFORD MYSTERYBook 6: THE TEATIME MYSTERYBook 7: THE COUNTRY INN MYSTERY

Genres: Mystery, Fiction

223 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 30, 2024

About the author

Faith Martin is a pen name of English author Jacquie Walton, who is best known for her popular detective series, starring Detective Inspector Hillary Greene.

As Joyce Cato, she writes more classically-inspired 'cosy' murder mysteries, such as the Monica Noble mystery series.

As Maxine Barry, her latest romance novels are now available from Corazon Books.

As Jessie Daniels, her 'spooky' crime novel, The Lavender Lady Casefile came out in November 2017.

Reviews

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun little mystery! Love when you don’t know who did it until the very end!!

[Wendy jorba · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good easy read

Enjoyed this cosy mystery didn’t get it until near the end
Love jenny starling good character
Enjoyable easy read and good characters

[Rosemary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good read though to be fair I'd have liked to give it 4.5 stars as I've found with this series that it takes a long time to get going but the solving is very suddenly worked out in the final few chapters. The characters as usual are well described as are the settings which all sound lovely. There are so many lovely dishes mentioned it reminds me of another series of books by another author which were set in a tearoom and at the end of every book the recipe for one of their traybakes was included.

In this story Jenny is covering for a friend who works in an Inn and is away for a few days when there is to be a reenactment of a local legend. Needless to say this ends with the demise of one of the characters but who could possibly have had a reason to kill. Certainly not the obvious people. I only just beat the inspector to working out who and why.

[Cidney · Rating 2 out of 5]

This series is written by the brilliant Faith Martin, Jenny Starling is a travelling cook, this time she is standing in for a friend at a country inn which is holding a Georgian weekend living out the legend of the village Lord who drowned his Lady wife in the village duck pond, which surely couldn't have been that deep? Anyway Jenny rocks up to a georgian inn with beautiful views and gets to see the georgian weekend with its colourful characters in costume, the singing and dancing and the play being re-enacted of the Lord and his marriage and the drowning of his wife so he could make off with his new mistress. All very colourful, and though we have details for every guest in the hotel the characters in this book and that includes Jenny Starling herself, just seem to be so one dimensional despite having all tht information. Am not warming to her really.

Anyway the play which is being played out over two days ends up by the leading lady being found dead in the village lake which had been upgraded by the Lord in the village legend, well it would needed to have been, he must have needed deeper water for the Lady herself to have drown in it where her feet didn't touch the bottom, a few inches deep duck pond was no good. So all Jenny has to do is get on with her fantastic cooking, snoop around bushes and listen to people's gossip for her to work out who the murderer was.

Am still not keen on Jenny Starling, no real back story and no real padding out of the character, it's almost as if she's a bystander in her own book. Maybe the third one I've bought will bring her up into the light more! I'm finding details of food in the georgian period rather more interesting than the murdery mystery itself!

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good cozy mystery, but the pace was a bit uneven. The murder didn’t happen until about the one-third mark of the story, but Jenny Starling, the traveling cook working at an inn in the Cotswold area of England, figures it out pretty quickly. The ending seemed abrupt since it took the story awhile to get going.

A Regency Extravaganza is happening at the inn over a weekend. A woman in the amateur drama group that is acting out a story from that period is often referred to as “girl”. Since she is, in fact, an adult, this annoyed me.

This is the second book I have read in the Jenny Starling series. It’s the seventh book, but they don’t have to be read in order. The settings sound like they would be lovely to visit. Recommended if you like cozy mysteries.

[Julie Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this British crime mystery where, travelling cook, Jenny Starling, is hired to work at a country inn. There is to be a reenactment of a supposed historical tragedy...

There was a good mix of characters. I liked Jenny because she is intelligent, talented, smart and kind. All she wants to do is cook and yet is always becomes entangled within the troubles.

Throughout this series, I thought it annoying how she is treated by the police...they resent what they call her interference and yet continually ask for her help. I know it's part of the plot but the hypocrisy is frustrating. However...

Well-written, engaging and entertaining.

Recommended.

[Janice · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am working through the Hillary Green series by the same author and thought (incorrectly!) that that series would soon be ending so I looked for another series by the same author. This was a random selection and I must say that it has the same easy reading style, a lead character who is easy to follow and the same final unravelling of a plot with many suspects . It will be easy to follow this series when I can find more of them.

[Carol Beckman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another page turner

The books might be formulaic but somehow that's quite comforting! We had to wait a while to find who the victim is and if everything is a bit far fetched that's the fun of it! The author draws the characters well (and names them amusingly!) so it's easier to keep track of everyone.

[Rebecca Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jenny deserves a home!!!

Just sad this is the last in the series. I'll miss Jen
ny. She should have met a wonderful police detective or wealthy restaurant owner. Not just keep moving. She's beautiful and deserves more.
Rebecca Parrish

[Marleen Blake · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first book of The Travelling Cook, found it to have a slow start for me. Yet once the murder happened it all made sense. A different style compared to the Hillary Green murder mystery books. But now I understand the methodology of this series I am happy to recommend this series.

[Liz Krummell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Significantly better than the prior book. Jenny is recognized by the police and based on her reputation is utilized. The death did not happen until well into the book. The strategy to solve the murder worked for me

[Harry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a most enjoyable "cosy" mystery story. The descriptions of the protagonists added to the pleasure of the clever plot, leaving us wondering up to the final conclusion. I enjoy the Travelling Cook mysteries.

[Patricia Moran · Rating 5 out of 5]

great series

I enjoyed visiting with Jenny again. Unfortunately these books occasionally make me hungry . The twisty mystery helps to distract.

[Kathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was not so happy with this book after having enjoyed The Oxford Mystery. I had downloaded a few more from the series but will return them without reading.

Kindle Unlimited

[nigel hammill · Rating 3 out of 5]

story contrived

I’ve always liked the Jenny the cook books, but this story was very contrived, especially the prolonged and twisted ending

[JoyceCharbonneau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did it AGAIN !

Faith Martin an amazing writer! She continues to come up with convoluted and surprising plots AND perpetrators you never considered until Jenny reveals all.

[Libby · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25

[Denise Walker · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointed

This was not one of her best books. To wordy and not enough spark to keep you reading. I couldn't wait for it to be over.

[Elizabeth Gresham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series!

[SANDY WARDROPE · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slow

Not as good as some of the previous books but I'll persevere with the next one, keep them coming please.

[Mary Howick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the series

I loved the series but can't seem to find the last book, the proof is in the pudding. Oh well.

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Started slowly. Built steadily. Character driven. Humorous. Nice twists at the end. Great escape.

[Grace McColgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit drawn out as I find many of Faith Martin’s books to be. Not a book that I “could not put down” and as typical, the real rising action, climax and resolution take place in the last eight pages.

[Carolyn Vandine West · Rating 3 out of 5]

Should have reviewed while it was fresh in my mind. It is part of a series. Just seemed a little dated to me.
I might try another one in the series. I guess the topic just didn’t appeal to me. But someone else might love it.
A library print book.