Death in Nonna's Kitchen

An Old Forge Café Mystery #2

by Alex Coombs

When famous TV chef Matteo McLeish turns up at the Old Forge Café and offers chef Charlie Hunter a place in his kitchen for the duration of Hampden Green's local opera festival, she thinks it's because he rates her cooking skills. In fact it's because he's heard she's good in a crisis. The wholesome star of Nonna's Kitchen is being blackmailed by one of his team.

Tempted by an improbably large pay cheque and the boost to to her CV, Charlie accepts his offer. Does the threat lie close to home, or back in Italy with Matteo's culinary roots? And can Charlie find the blackmailer before she's swept up in an avalanche of death and scandal?

Genres: Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Mystery, British Literature

340 pages, Paperback

Published April 11, 2024

About the author

Alex Coombs studied Arabic at Oxford and Edinburgh Universities and went on to work in adult education and then retrained to be a chef,

Alex Coombs was born in Lambeth in south London. Silenced for Good is the first of a new series of novels featuring Hanlon as a PI. He lives in South Bucks but has family in Scotland and spends a considerable amount of time in Edinburgh and Argyll.
He is the author of four previous novels featuring Hanlon in the police ( the DCI Hanlon series). He also writes light-hearted crime fiction as HVCoombs for One More Chapter/Harper Collins.
Visit his website at www.alexcoombs.co.uk or Facebook@AlexCoombsCrime

Reviews

[Paula Learmouth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Book Two in the 'Old Forge Cafe Mystery' series. Matteo McLeish is a famous TV chef and has came to the Old Forge Cafe to offer chef Charlie Hunter a chance to work in his kitchen while the Hampden Green's local opera festival is on. But Charlie thinks it's because her skills in the kitchen, but Matteo has other ideas why he wants her. Matteo is being blackmailed but there is one problem he's not to sure by who. Matteo is hoping having Charlie around she can take the pressure off himself so he can work out who is the blackmailer.. could it be someone that works in his kitchen and after his job, or maybe it goes far back than that and it's someone that knows him back in Italy and know about his past live? If you have read book one 'Murder On The Menu' you will see some new character that join characters we got to know in the first book. I loved everything about this book and can't wait to see what Alex has for next.

[Sonja Charters · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Old Forge Cafe Mystery series and I read and reviewed the first book - Murder On The Menu - at the end of last year.
I really enjoyed book one and was looking forward to seeing what was coming our way next....

Well, famous TV chef Matteo turns up at the Old Forge and has offered Charlie a place in his kitchen. Having heard how good she is in a crisis he needed her around to help him out of a spot of bother.....as well as using her cooking skills too!

The introduction of the new characters worked really well and the plot allowed them to slot nicely into the setting that we came to know in the last book.
It was great to watch the dynamic in the kitchens once again and nice to see that Matteo trusted Charlie with his dilemma - especially with one of his current staff members blackmailing him already.

The writing style was perfect as before. It totally grabs you into this world and immerses you within both the setting itself but also within the kitchen atmosphere too.
Another snack-fest, packed with intrigued and humour throughout.

A brilliant read - which I raced through again! - but I've just spotted that there is already a book 3 planned (releasing in August) and I'm hungry to sink my teeth into another great mystery! (See what I did there!? 😂)

[Mackenzie - PhDiva Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was excited to read the second chapter in Chef Charlie Hunter’s journey to become a notable chef from her own restaurant, the Old Forge Café in Hampden Green. In DEATH IN NONNA’S KITCHEN, Charlie catches the eye of a celebrity chef and gets the opportunity of a lifetime! Or does she?

Chef Matteo McLeish hosts the popular cooking show, Nonna’s Kitchen. He makes the trip from London to Hampden Green to ask Charlie to do a guest stint in his kitchen. Charlie is thrilled her talent has been noticed! Only it turns out it isn’t her cooking that drew him to her, it’s her knack for solving mysteries.

Matteo shares that he is being blackmailed over some sex work his wife had done before he got famous. He doesn’t want her videos to come out for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the family brand they promote. Matteo is certain the blackmailer is one of his own team, and Charlie agrees to take a turn in his kitchen and try to catch the blackmailer.

But a stake out at an adult entertainment shop where the drop off should be puts her in the path of someone unexpected. And it’s not long before he winds up dead. It appears that whoever is blackmailing Matteo may also be a murderer! Can Charlie help catch whoever is responsible before anyone else dies?

Coombs writes with the dry humor and rough-and-tumble, quirky characters I came to love in Murder on the Menu. His books have a bit more edge than is common in cozy mysteries, but I think that is part of the charm. This series isn’t overly dark or gruesome, but his characters get into some scraps throughout the book on the quest to find the blackmailer and murderer.

There are plenty of leads to follow. I liked that there was a finite group of suspects and people that could have access. I did miss the crew at the Old Forge Café, though they make plenty of appearances during the mystery. Expect some good red herrings along the way. Coombs has some surprises up his sleeves that make this a twist-filled mystery.

Thank you to Anne at Random Things Tours for my spot on the tour!

[Zarina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full review on my blog: https://www.pagetostagereviews.com/20...

I've quickly become a big fan of chef Charlie and the quirky cast of Hamden Green villagers. This time around we already know the main characters – such as the local Earl, medium Anna Bruce, and Charlie's feisty employee Jess – so we have an opportunity to delve a little bit deeper into their lives, which is always a great thing about an ongoing series.

Although we didn't quite get enough from our favourite bus boy Francis, as Charlie is spending most of her working hours in Matteo's kitchen, rather than her own. So I do hope he gets a chance to shine again in the next instalment. (He did have one wonderful moment where he, once again, came to the rescue in the most epic way.)

Matteo and his crew were a great addition to the mix, keeping things interesting and unexpected. They were the unknowns and the immediate suspects when things went awry, keeping both the established characters and the readers on their toes. Like Charlie, I was enamoured by Murdo and I really liked Octavia too as the story progressed, but the others were all potential blackmailers in my eyes.

And, I'll be honest, while I had a "feeling" about a bad egg early on, I did completely get the wool pulled over my eyes with the red herrings, meaning that the explosive revelation came as a complete surprise. Personally, this is my favourite way to enjoy a murder mystery, feeling slightly smug that I figured something out early on, but also being on the edge of my seat throughout as the plot takes me into wrong directions along the way.

Author Alex Coombs has really figured out a great recipe for a delectable whodunnit with his Old Forge Café Mysteries series. His in-depth knowledge about food and the inner workings of a commercial kitchen blends wonderfully with the absolute madness of the murder rampage. Add to that some hilarious side plots to ensure the story can never quite be taken seriously (one word: Sandra) – and you've got a highly entertaining page-turner.

[Steph Warren · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received a free copy of this book, with thanks to the author, No Exit Press and Anne Cater of Random Things Blog Tours. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*

I’m not a great cook myself, but I do love reading about other people’s culinary creations and if that is combined with a mystery then I am definitely in my element!

This is the second of the Old Forge Café Mysteries (sequel to Murder on the Menu) and having not read the first book I can confirm that this one definitely works fine as a standalone story but did leave me hungry for more of the backstory of main character Charlie’s relationships with other characters, like the Earl and Bethany, or Andrea, or Jess and Francis.

Those familiar with professional kitchens would probably be familiar with the hectic pace of the story, as Charlie works two kitchens while simultaneously planning and producing the catering for a pagan celebration, whilst secretly also investigating who might be blackmailing a celebrity chef and his glamorous, influencer wife. All I know is that following the fine food and foul deeds really kept my excitement levels breathlessly high. And made my mouth water.

In fact, this is the ideal cosy mystery book to pair with your favourite reading snacks and beverage (elderflower pop and pretzel thins for me!). There’s nothing graphic to put you off your food and by the time you turn the final page you will feel satisfied but soon be hankering for more… good job A Knife in the Back is already cooking!

Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...

[Cheryl M-M · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first Charlie thinks Matteo the celebrity TV chef wants her for her kitchen talents, but it turns out her sleuthing skills are a much higher priority for him. Oh well, as long as everyone thinks Matteo has picked her to be part of his skilled staff, because she is an excellent chef, that’s all that matters, right? Charlie doesn’t take appearances that seriously, she does however put her restaurant first – always.

Matteo expects Charlie to find a blackmailer, a snake hidden among his own team. Someone intent on destroying his reputation and that of his loved one. At least it seems as if that is all that is at stake, until death comes knocking and that changes everything.

Although the cast of characters from the first book come into play, they do stand in the shadow of Matteo and his team of kitchen experts a wee bit. I’d love to see a little more of some of the characters who had quite comical moments before, although Charlie is definitely the one at the centre of everything.

I can envision this as screen series, with plenty of food and dessert shots for the foodies of course, but it definitely has a quaint cosy mystery element to it, despite the fact it does wander into more subjects at times. This is the second book in the series, but it can absolutely be read as a standalone book.

[Karolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here is my review for Death In Nonna’s Kitchen by Alex Coombs

Charlie Hunter is back for more death but with blackmail thrown into the mix this time. This was a fantastic read which I got into straight away and just loved from start to finish. The writing just flowed easily throughout the book and it was an easy book to read. The plotting was excellent and the descriptive text was just superb. This time, Charlie was helping a famous tv chef Matteo McLeish who was running a local opera festival at Hampden Green. This is the second book in The Old Forge Cafe series which I enjoy reading.

Blurb :

When famous TV chef Matteo McLeish turns up at the Old Forge Café and offers chef Charlie Hunter a place in his kitchen for the duration of Hampden Green's local opera festival, she thinks it's because he rates her cooking skills. In fact it's because he's heard she's good in a crisis. The wholesome star of Nonna's Kitchen is being blackmailed by one of his team.
Tempted by an improbably large pay cheque and the boost to to her CV, Charlie accepts his offer. Does the threat lie close to home, or back in Italy with Matteo's culinary roots? And can Charlie find the blackmailer before she's swept up in an avalanche of death and scandal?

[N.L. Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charlie is running her restaurant, but money is tight, so when she has the opportunity to work with a famous TV chef, Matteo, the extra cash can’t hurt. But he isn’t interested in her cooking skills, he needs her detective skills.

Charlie must find and stop who is blackmailing the famous chef, but also stop the bodies from piling up.

This is the second novel in a series but can still be read as a stand-alone. I really enjoyed the character of Charlie and how she used her initiative, but she wouldn’t be standing without her team as trouble always seems to find her.

This was a great cosy crime novel, with individual characters that help bring a unique narrative.

I will definitely look forward to the next novel, and I have already bought book one to read more of these fantastic characters.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Death in Nonna’s Kitchen! The setting was charming, the food descriptions were mouthwatering, and I loved spending more time with the characters. That said, I did find it a little easier to guess who was behind the crimes this time around, and I suspected Matteo wasn’t being entirely truthful from early on. Still, I was genuinely surprised by what he was hiding as it was definitely not what I expected! A fun, cozy mystery that’s perfect for curling up with, even if the twists weren’t quite as shocking as the first book.

[Debbie Young · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was a bit of a slow burn, but when it going going it was full of clever twists and turns. The author is knowledgeable about the life of a chef and there a plenty of culinary tips and food references for foodies like me. The tales of the kitchen brigade rang true for me, having been a cook for 10 years now, although my kitchen has always been a little less exciting. I enjoyed this and would read more, it’s a good summer cosy mystery.

[Bee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not the best book. While it has an interesting premise, I would argue it hasn’t been executed well. I like the returning characters but I feel there were too many new characters introduced- I felt some characters were rather pointless to the overall story.

You find out the killer less than twenty pages before the book finishes, and the build up throughout feels like it was for nothing. The book was longer than it needed to be, in my opinion.

[Annarella · Rating 5 out of 5]

An entertaining and compelling cozy series and a solid instalment that surprised me and kept me hooked.
I liked the well plotted and solid story, it kept me guessing and was delighted to catch up with the pleasant and well-developed characters of this series.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

[Lio Landsman]

When famous TV chef Matteo McLeish turns up at the Old Forge Café and offers chef Charlie Hunter a place in his kitchen for the duration of Hampden Green's local opera festival, she thinks it's because he rates her cooking skills. In fact it's because he's heard she's good in a crisis. The wholesome star of Nonna's Kitchen is being blackmailed by one of his team.

[Maya Kumar-Merino · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like this series, forgot how brass the books are and how funny the characters are. Really liked the murder mystery and how all the characters linked together, not a typical village murder way more blunt and forceful. Loved Charlie and how strong and independent she is.
Excited to read the next one to see how the love interest develops

[Callum Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice easy read that is an improvement on the first book, however, just like the first I felt it was too easy to work out who the killer was and often situations were resolved rather easily. Looking forward to the next in the series though.

[Susan Kumar-Merino · Rating 4 out of 5]

I preferred the first book in this series …. A lot of repetitive thinking by our hero chef and not really getting to the bottom of it , she had to be helped so many times … Will look forward to the next one I. The series though

[Amberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started and finished date - 28.08.25 to 01.09.25.
My rating - Three Stars.
This book was okay read but I found is book to be bit boring I think people who the golden spoon by Jessa Maxwell or ink ribbon red by Alex Pavesi may like is book. The cover of book was fine and the writing was okay also easy follow also the ending was okay. the mystery and the atmosphere was fine but it bit bland. The paced of plot was well structured and steady paced. The characters was okay but they little bit dull and they needed most them well flash out

[Emma Linley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this new series

[Roberta · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book, just not quite to my taste

[Rachael Fair · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good can't wait for the next one

[Julie Footner-Hughes · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy read with a good storyline.

[pauline ewen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and I am certainly enjoying the series, can't wait for the next one.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second in a series. I am loving these books about a chef turned amateur sleuth. A very enjoyable read, can't wait for the next one!

[Sarah Osborne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very slow

[Pauline · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful cozy mystery.

[Lucy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think the pacing of this story to begin with was very good and to the point which was nice but towards the end this dragged. I guessed the plot twist about 100 pages in of who was responsible.

[Tony DeCerce · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the book, but this is book 2 and it kept referring to book 1, which I guess is fair but I did not like. Read book 1 first, I will now, to see what I missed