À la Carte Mortelle: Cozy Mystère Française (Les Mystères Enjoués d'Emily Cherry)

Emily Cherry Cozy #1

by Donna Doyle

Emily Cherry may be retired, but she’s not about to roll over and die!

Defying the doubts of her three adult children this plucky computer-shy grandma embarks on a unique path by launching her very own food blog. The only problem is that during her inaugural restaurant review, she stumbles upon a lifeless body .

In an instant, Emily's envisioned future as a food blogger plunges into uncertainty - and a brand-new amateur sleuth is born!

Cozy up in your favorite chair and prepare for a thrilling first adventure in this brand-new senior sleuthing series. You are guaranteed to fall in love with retiree Emily Cherry and giggle at her uncanny ability to stumble into one head-scratching mystery after another.

Genres: Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Mystery, Ebooks

114 pages, Paperback

Published July 1, 2025

Reviews

[Katie (hiding in the pages)]

When Emily decides to start a food blog and ends up in the wrong place at the wrong time, a cozy murder mystery ensues.

This story is a quick read and a little fun-sized bite of fun. I liked that it was cozy and clean, and that I could read it in a sitting.

[Toi Marie]

Emily Cherry

This story is about an older retired lady named Emily Cherry. Emily has 3 older children and 2 granddaughters and decides now that she's retired to create her own blog and decide to do it about food. So the first restaurant she tries is The Silver Swan, where she meets a waiter named Aaron and he's not the nicest to her. After waiting a long time for her soup, she decides to use the restroom and ends up at the wrong door when the lighting is not enough in the hallway. This door leads her to the outside in back of the restaurant where she finds her waiter dead. This series is great for us older women, so grab a copy of book one and enjoy an afternoon or evening of sitting back and enjoying a nice mystery.

[Beth Temin]

A waiter dies at the restaurant

Emily has decided to write a blog and begins by reviewing the food at a resraurant. Her waiter argues with the chef, then disappears. She gets up to find the restroom but ends up exiting the back door, where she finds her waiter's dead body. Of course, the male detective treats her like she is a frail old lady. I loved the female detective who treats her with respect, and when Emily discovers his death was due to an allergic reaction, she gains the respect of not only the detective, but her family. The best part was when she served her family the recipes she copied from the restaurant menu and they all loved it.

[Julie Trapp]

2.5 Emily Cherry may be retired, but she’s not about to roll over and die! Defying the doubts of her three adult children this plucky computer-shy grandma embarks on a unique path by launching her very own food blog. The only problem is that during her inaugural restaurant review, she stumbles upon a lifeless body. In an instant, Emily's envisioned future as a food blogger plunges into uncertainty - and a brand-new amateur sleuth is born! [amazon synopsis]

Quick read; juvenile; boring. I saw this series described as "plain & simple". That is exactly what they are. My 8yr old granddaughter could have written a more interesting book. One and done with this series.

[Hannah Pearce]

Y’all, this book is so cute. I picked it up for a quick read, which it is indeed a quick read with only 127 pages. I want to read more of this series. It’s about a grandmother who had retired and wanted to find something to fill the void in her life. She decided on trying her hand at writing food blogs. She ended up a bit of a predicament with finding a dead body, and ended help trying to solve the case. This was a great, short read. I also think it was a cute mystery that I think everyone should read.

[HAL]

A Delightful Cozy

Doyle checks all the right boxes for a great cozy mystery:
No swearing, no sex scenes, not gory or too descriptive, light reading without being silly and a solid plot that keeps the reader engaged. Having a very likeable, level headed senior who refuses to be coddled or patronized by those around her helps raise the entertainment rating, too. I can easily recommend this book for teens and adults. Great job Donna Doyle for another great cozy!

[Tess Ailshire]

I didn't realize this was a novelette, or I probably wouldn't have bothered. It did help increase my "books read to date" number.

Thoroughly forgettable. Woman is confused; woman finds body; woman puts together things she knows; woman knows whodunit and is not surprised when the police unofficially confirm.

If you need a book to finish without thinking in an afternoon at the pool, have at it.

[Kim Ligon]

She may be older but she's sharp as ever

Emily's well meaning family seems to think she should sit still in retirement and do nothing that requires too much skill, thinking, or activity. Emily has other ideas and decides to begin a food blog. Boy, does she have something to blog about when there is a murder and she finds a key clue! Wonderful characters and engaging story. Can't wait to read more Emily Cherry stories!

[Tom]

A fun first book in the series

Emily is settling into retirement and being widowed . Her kids are trying to set her up on a cruise and or volunteering. She pushes back and tells them that she is planning to start a blog. As she starts to work on her blog she goes to a restaurant to do a food review on her order. However one of the restaurant staff is murdered. Lots of twists and turns and a surprise ending. A fun read.

[Kelly Ferrett]

A Troubling Case of Murder On The Menu.
A quick little read of murder! Emily Cherry is an elderly woman who has been widowed a while ago .. Her life is not fulfilling but what she is missing she isn’t sure of … goes through a few things her kids thinks she should do but are not interesting for her … she doesn’t feel old … just unfulfilled !
Enjoyable read which is quick and easy.

[Elz]

This was a cute cozy "mystery" story. I would classify this between a Junie B Jones and Nancy Drew type of mystery. But for adults, considering the main character is an elderly woman talking about being retired and pensions and such.

I enjoyed my time reading this, but I don't see myself reaching for any of the others in this series.

[Sofias Spooky Stuff]

This was a lovely, quick, read. We follow a retired widow, who is trying to find her passion…she tries blogging and stumbled into a whole new side of life! I loved it ….it was everything I want from a cozy mystery.

[Frances A.]

I love clean mysteries that have older women that solve problems. I am an older woman and I read a lot. I enjoyed this book immensely and now I am starting the second book.

[TERRY BUCKMORE]

I really enjoy this author and loved this book.

[Karin]

Who killed Aaron and why??? Peanut allergy??? I enjoyed this story and recommended the book.

[Janet Miller]

A quick reading cute cozy mystery. Entertaining with interesting characters. Highly recommended.

[Karin Tillotson]

Who killed Aaron and why and how??? Allergies??? I enjoyed this story and recommended the book.

[Virginia L]

A fun story

Finding fun things to do to fill the empty days after becoming a widow was a challenge to this grandma.
She faced the challenge and was quite creative. 🤔

[Larry]

I enjoyed this novella. The characters are fun, the plot is straight forward, and the premise is showing a retired lady, that she can have fun writing a blog. I do recommend this book.

[Carolyn Thibodaux]

Being a senior citizen myself, I enjoy how this story consent rates on the fact that we can do just about anything we want. I do plan to continue with this series. I can empathize with Emily.

[Sarah]

This was shorter than I thought it would be. I loved it.

[Terri Borkgren]

A cute cozy about a retiree who wants to start up a food blog and finds a body! A little over an hour to read and no gorry details. Check it out you'll not be disappointed.

[Jenell Klinedinst]

Loved the characters, enjoyed the story. EMILYNreminds me of Jessica Fletcher

[Rita Walker]

Great book

[Mae]

A cute story of a woman who retired but wanted something to do.

[Kathryn]

Its cute. Granny is trying to find herself after the death of her husband and trying to keep her kids from putting her in bubble wrap. I can relate

[Elizabeth F.]

Good story. Fun characters. Enjoyable read.

[Rachelle Bachiu]

A fun book to read and great story. Donna writes clean stories and that in itself makes it more interesting and entertaining.

[Shawn Bird]

I had to rewind a dozen times, I kept being distracted and bored. Pacing an issue.

[Stephanie Murray]

Cute little mystery