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Traveling Cook Mystery #1-7
The Complete Travelling Cook Mysteries
Please note these books were first published under Faith Martin's pen name Joyce Cato.
Welcome to the world of Jenny Starling — where the scones are flaky, the guests are under suspicion, and murder is always on the menu.
She’s a passionate travelling cook turned reluctant sleuth, with a knack for stumbling over crime scenes. Wherever Jenny goes, someone inconveniently drops dead.
MEET YOUR AMATEUR SLEUTH
Jenny Starling is a six-foot-one-inch force of nature on a one-woman mission to bring back ‘real’ food. Curvaceous and confident, she’s a modern single woman, living the lifestyle that suits her. Jenny drives a disreputable cherry-red van adorned with unicorns and a personalized “EAT ME1” number plate. She’s happy travelling the country catering events and cooking great food, but along with her palate for gourmet cuisine comes a nose for foul play. Snobs irk her, mysteries intrigue her, and when the soufflés rise and the bodies drop, Jenny serves up the truth — hot, satisfying, and with just a pinch of sass.
THE SETTING
Set against the backdrop of idyllic English villages, imposing stately homes, riverboats, castles, and country fêtes, this delightful mystery series takes you deep into the quaint charm of rural Britain — and then promptly drags a corpse out of the ornamental pond. Every cozy setting hides a killer twist, and it’s just Jenny’s rotten luck that murder always follows wherever she goes. From the rolling Cotswolds hills to the dreaming spires of Oxford, each picture-perfect place turns deadly — especially when the knives come out (and not just in the kitchen).
Welcome to the world of Jenny Starling — where the scones are flaky, the guests are under suspicion, and murder is always on the menu.
She’s a passionate travelling cook turned reluctant sleuth, with a knack for stumbling over crime scenes. Wherever Jenny goes, someone inconveniently drops dead.
MEET YOUR AMATEUR SLEUTH
Jenny Starling is a six-foot-one-inch force of nature on a one-woman mission to bring back ‘real’ food. Curvaceous and confident, she’s a modern single woman, living the lifestyle that suits her. Jenny drives a disreputable cherry-red van adorned with unicorns and a personalized “EAT ME1” number plate. She’s happy travelling the country catering events and cooking great food, but along with her palate for gourmet cuisine comes a nose for foul play. Snobs irk her, mysteries intrigue her, and when the soufflés rise and the bodies drop, Jenny serves up the truth — hot, satisfying, and with just a pinch of sass.
THE SETTING
Set against the backdrop of idyllic English villages, imposing stately homes, riverboats, castles, and country fêtes, this delightful mystery series takes you deep into the quaint charm of rural Britain — and then promptly drags a corpse out of the ornamental pond. Every cozy setting hides a killer twist, and it’s just Jenny’s rotten luck that murder always follows wherever she goes. From the rolling Cotswolds hills to the dreaming spires of Oxford, each picture-perfect place turns deadly — especially when the knives come out (and not just in the kitchen).
- GenresMystery
1581 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 7, 2025
About the author
Joyce Cato
14 books105 followersJoyce Cato is a pen name of English author Jacquie Walton. She also writes under the pen names Jessie Daniels, Faith Martin and Maxine Barry.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
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June 23, 2025I thoroughly enjoyed reading these mysteries. The settings changed in each book enough that I didn't confuse the stories or characters. The settings varied from a Manor house, a farmhouse, a castle, a cricket club, and on a boat, to name a few. The author was inventive with the portrayals and solutions to the mysteries. It was reminiscent of reading older mysteries with creative endings. The murders were more inventive than the standby gun shot or stabbing.
The characters were very distinct. It was easy to form an emotional response to them. I would find myself saying, "Please don't let 'X' be the murderer or let 'Y' be the victim". Then again, I thought a certain character was the killer, and as much as I disliked them, alas, they were just a dislikable character.
One thing I would say is by the 7th book, the police response to the main character became pretty mundane due to the fact that Jenny seemed to have a reputation among the police force. Even though she traveled quite extensively, all of the police officers knew who she was and responded in one of two ways. I think the author could have played with this aspect more creatively by the end of 7 books. Also, the physical description of Jenny didn't vary much from story to story. It took the first few books to figure out if the description was positive or negative. I felt that the author's creative energy was concentrated on the storyline rather than the finer aspects of the nuances of the main character.
Overall, I am pleased to have discovered another author to follow.
The characters were very distinct. It was easy to form an emotional response to them. I would find myself saying, "Please don't let 'X' be the murderer or let 'Y' be the victim". Then again, I thought a certain character was the killer, and as much as I disliked them, alas, they were just a dislikable character.
One thing I would say is by the 7th book, the police response to the main character became pretty mundane due to the fact that Jenny seemed to have a reputation among the police force. Even though she traveled quite extensively, all of the police officers knew who she was and responded in one of two ways. I think the author could have played with this aspect more creatively by the end of 7 books. Also, the physical description of Jenny didn't vary much from story to story. It took the first few books to figure out if the description was positive or negative. I felt that the author's creative energy was concentrated on the storyline rather than the finer aspects of the nuances of the main character.
Overall, I am pleased to have discovered another author to follow.
April 15, 2025
They have, slightly, updated this set of stories
I read these a few years ago. Enjoyed them, then, as again now.
Not much change to the actual stories, just mentions of mobile phones, and computer work via the police, as well as more use of disco and their tricks.
Love the character of Jenny. I usually manage to 'view' the characters as I read and while there is a good description of our 'fool's I haven't been able to see her via anyone I know, or as an actor. It rather perplexed me lol.
Well written, as you expect from Faith Martin and not an easy spot of the murderer(s). You have to get into the thought process of Jenny, rather than following police procedures. Hence why she can spot the 3 W's, who, where and why before the police.
Enjoyed them again.
I read these a few years ago. Enjoyed them, then, as again now.
Not much change to the actual stories, just mentions of mobile phones, and computer work via the police, as well as more use of disco and their tricks.
Love the character of Jenny. I usually manage to 'view' the characters as I read and while there is a good description of our 'fool's I haven't been able to see her via anyone I know, or as an actor. It rather perplexed me lol.
Well written, as you expect from Faith Martin and not an easy spot of the murderer(s). You have to get into the thought process of Jenny, rather than following police procedures. Hence why she can spot the 3 W's, who, where and why before the police.
Enjoyed them again.
May 16, 2025
So much fun!
Jenny, the traveling cook, finds short jobs to delight folks with her delicious catering, but murders dog her footsteps. Luckily, her intellect is as sharp as her cooking skills and she helps the police solve the crimes. A fast, compelling read, each book is a delight.
Jenny, the traveling cook, finds short jobs to delight folks with her delicious catering, but murders dog her footsteps. Luckily, her intellect is as sharp as her cooking skills and she helps the police solve the crimes. A fast, compelling read, each book is a delight.
July 22, 2025
Such fun!
Loved the settings and the vast variety of characters. Jenny is someone you’d like as a friend. Thoroughly enjoyed the series and will look forward to more by Faith Martin.
Loved the settings and the vast variety of characters. Jenny is someone you’d like as a friend. Thoroughly enjoyed the series and will look forward to more by Faith Martin.
August 15, 2025
Another great series from Faith Martin
I love all of her series. They are well written and a pleasure to read. Each story is different. I thoroughly enjoyed each book. It's clean and I hope she continues with new stories and unique characters.
I love all of her series. They are well written and a pleasure to read. Each story is different. I thoroughly enjoyed each book. It's clean and I hope she continues with new stories and unique characters.
August 16, 2025
who knew cooking for others can be deadly
Great characters, locations. A cook that solves mysteries along the way and mystifies the police by using logic, who knew could be such an entertaining read.
Great characters, locations. A cook that solves mysteries along the way and mystifies the police by using logic, who knew could be such an entertaining read.
February 9, 2026
A great series of engaing cozy mysteries with all the main features - fast-paced plot with plenty of red herrings - relatable chacters all written in a straight-forward style that keeps the reader turning the page.
May 23, 2025
Food for thought
Hardly gripping,,but it's a great source of ideas for light snacks.. pand main meals as well so get the ingredients together and enjoying your cooking
Hardly gripping,,but it's a great source of ideas for light snacks.. pand main meals as well so get the ingredients together and enjoying your cooking
May 27, 2025
Nice easy read
Really enjoyed the travelling cook but wish she could have met someone nice to be with enable read and I only solved 2 cases myself
Really enjoyed the travelling cook but wish she could have met someone nice to be with enable read and I only solved 2 cases myself
June 3, 2025
I did a review for each book individually, so look for each title to get a review of each of the 7 stories.
June 24, 2025
Had Me Wondering
Each of these books.were intriguing enough to hold.my Interest. How she figures each crime out was pure.enjoyment, and also yh¡
Each of these books.were intriguing enough to hold.my Interest. How she figures each crime out was pure.enjoyment, and also yh¡
July 16, 2025
Another great read
Very good read of the 7 mysteries, kept me well entertained. Highly recommended for the murder mystery buffs who love a good whodunit.
Very good read of the 7 mysteries, kept me well entertained. Highly recommended for the murder mystery buffs who love a good whodunit.
November 8, 2025
entertaining
Worth it. It was easy listening through my Alexa App, while working in the kitchen. Kept my interest through all 7 books.
Worth it. It was easy listening through my Alexa App, while working in the kitchen. Kept my interest through all 7 books.
January 11, 2026
Marg’s bedtime read
Brilliant story and so many twists and turns can’t wait to read the last book in this instalment, hopefully there’s more books to come
Brilliant story and so many twists and turns can’t wait to read the last book in this instalment, hopefully there’s more books to come
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews