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A Kensington Palace Chef Mystery #1
Kale to the Queen
Chef Carrie Ann Cole is about to embark on the adventure of a lifetime--an assignment as the new Personal Chef to the Royal Family at Kensington Palace. But no sooner has Carrie Ann touched down across the pond and donned her apron than a dead body crops up beneath the royal kale beds.
With one assistant dead and the other soon under suspicion for his murder, Carrie Ann is scrambling to keep her kitchen up and running. Not to mention she gets off to an immediate bad start with the tempestuous Royal Chef Butterbottom, who has a bitter taste in his mouth since the prestigious position in the Royal Family's kitchen was given to an "over-privileged, under-educated American chef."
But the Royal Family's appetites wait for no one, and Carrie Ann must solve the murder and still get supper on the table on time--even with the annoyingly handsome Head of Security Ian Gordon tracking her every move like an MI6 agent. Suspects abound as an American chef adds a bit of spice to the traditional royal household in the first in Nell Hampton's charming and tasty Kensington Palace Chef Mystery series, Kale to the Queen.
With one assistant dead and the other soon under suspicion for his murder, Carrie Ann is scrambling to keep her kitchen up and running. Not to mention she gets off to an immediate bad start with the tempestuous Royal Chef Butterbottom, who has a bitter taste in his mouth since the prestigious position in the Royal Family's kitchen was given to an "over-privileged, under-educated American chef."
But the Royal Family's appetites wait for no one, and Carrie Ann must solve the murder and still get supper on the table on time--even with the annoyingly handsome Head of Security Ian Gordon tracking her every move like an MI6 agent. Suspects abound as an American chef adds a bit of spice to the traditional royal household in the first in Nell Hampton's charming and tasty Kensington Palace Chef Mystery series, Kale to the Queen.
277 pages, Hardcover
First published April 11, 2017
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August 3, 2022
4 stars to Nell Hampton's Kale to the Queen, the first book in the new "Kensington Palace Chef" mystery series. I thoroughly adored this book and am very excited to see how this new series does in the coming years. A definite read for cozy fans, especially those who love a mystery set in England.
Story
Carrie Ann, a mid-20s American chef from Chicago, has a chance meeting with the English Duchess, and finds herself with an invite to become the royal family's new personal chef. She moves to London and sets up shop in Kensington palace, where she serves the future King of England, in her own kitchen with two assistant chefs. After meeting several colleagues, and finding a few a bit too snooty and some with a grudge against her already, Carrie Ann settles in; however, she soon finds one of her assistants dead on her kitchen floor. She gets to know 5 or 6 key staffers at the palace, deciding for herself who to trust and who to steer clear of. After several days of minor sleuthing, trying to clear her second assistant who is accused of murdering the first assistant, Carrie Ann finds herself embroiled in quite a mess of black market gambling. As she learns the ways of the palace, she gets to know the victim's family, learning his wife was in love with someone else and sick with cancer. When she comes closer to solving the case, and putting her job in jeopardy, Carrie Ann unwittingly stumbles upon the killer and finds a way to escape with little harm. Along the course, her boyfriend of 6-years, whom she took a "break" from at his suggestion when she moved to London, tries to maintain their relationship, but she's finding others she might be attracted to in her new role. How will she get out of this dilemma? Just you wait...
Strengths
1. From the moment I picked up the book until the end, I found every page easy to read, every character interesting and each plot line solid. It's a strong opening cozy. Not once did I stop to think "which character was that?" as each one is clear and memorable. And there are at least 10 supporting players to keep track of. Nice work, Miss Hampton!
2. You'd think it would be a bit tedious dealing with all of the rules in the palace. But it's woven together in such an easy way, you find it believable. And kinda fun, trying to figure out how Carrie Ann would adapt to the barricades set around her entire day, from no men in the bedroom quarters, to home by 11pm or sleep elsewhere, to not speaking unless spoken to when near the duchess. Craziness!
3. The relationships between everyone are so fun! Carrie Ann battles with almost everyone on different levels, but she also bonds with everyone at some point, too. I can't decide who I want her to end up with... the gardener, the royal chef, the head of security, the gardener's brother! It's a feast of options.
Suggestions
The ultimate culprit and plot were fine, but possibly a little weak. I'd have liked to see a few more layers of complexity thrown in. It was good, and I enjoyed it, but I think it could have been a little better. For example, maybe there were some different red herrings that led us further astray. Or maybe the family connections were a little more surprising.
Final Thoughts
I'm really surprised at how much I loved this cozy. It certainly wasn't perfect, but it was very strong for a new series, and I'm a bit sad I'll likely have to wait a whole year before the next one. Noooo!!!
Story
Carrie Ann, a mid-20s American chef from Chicago, has a chance meeting with the English Duchess, and finds herself with an invite to become the royal family's new personal chef. She moves to London and sets up shop in Kensington palace, where she serves the future King of England, in her own kitchen with two assistant chefs. After meeting several colleagues, and finding a few a bit too snooty and some with a grudge against her already, Carrie Ann settles in; however, she soon finds one of her assistants dead on her kitchen floor. She gets to know 5 or 6 key staffers at the palace, deciding for herself who to trust and who to steer clear of. After several days of minor sleuthing, trying to clear her second assistant who is accused of murdering the first assistant, Carrie Ann finds herself embroiled in quite a mess of black market gambling. As she learns the ways of the palace, she gets to know the victim's family, learning his wife was in love with someone else and sick with cancer. When she comes closer to solving the case, and putting her job in jeopardy, Carrie Ann unwittingly stumbles upon the killer and finds a way to escape with little harm. Along the course, her boyfriend of 6-years, whom she took a "break" from at his suggestion when she moved to London, tries to maintain their relationship, but she's finding others she might be attracted to in her new role. How will she get out of this dilemma? Just you wait...
Strengths
1. From the moment I picked up the book until the end, I found every page easy to read, every character interesting and each plot line solid. It's a strong opening cozy. Not once did I stop to think "which character was that?" as each one is clear and memorable. And there are at least 10 supporting players to keep track of. Nice work, Miss Hampton!
2. You'd think it would be a bit tedious dealing with all of the rules in the palace. But it's woven together in such an easy way, you find it believable. And kinda fun, trying to figure out how Carrie Ann would adapt to the barricades set around her entire day, from no men in the bedroom quarters, to home by 11pm or sleep elsewhere, to not speaking unless spoken to when near the duchess. Craziness!
3. The relationships between everyone are so fun! Carrie Ann battles with almost everyone on different levels, but she also bonds with everyone at some point, too. I can't decide who I want her to end up with... the gardener, the royal chef, the head of security, the gardener's brother! It's a feast of options.
Suggestions
The ultimate culprit and plot were fine, but possibly a little weak. I'd have liked to see a few more layers of complexity thrown in. It was good, and I enjoyed it, but I think it could have been a little better. For example, maybe there were some different red herrings that led us further astray. Or maybe the family connections were a little more surprising.
Final Thoughts
I'm really surprised at how much I loved this cozy. It certainly wasn't perfect, but it was very strong for a new series, and I'm a bit sad I'll likely have to wait a whole year before the next one. Noooo!!!
March 19, 2017
I was so looking forward to a brand new series set in one of my favorite London spots, Kensington Palace. However, from the very first page, I knew I was going to be extremely let down. This author's father might "love all things British", but she definitely needs to spend some time there---or hire a British editor---or both.
The many, many inaccurate English stereotypes were painful. "Cream tea" is not cream in the tea---they take milk. They wear "jeans and athletic shoes" just like we do---that's not a dead giveaway to being American. Everyone I've ever met from way up north to way down south dresses just like we Americans do. In fact, the complete idiocy of the main character is painful. ("How could you tell I was American---are my clothes that odd?" "No, it's your accent...") Um, duh? I've never had anyone in England ask me if I was American---they're smart enough to figure that out when I speak---but especially not in London. Does the author realize how many foreign-born people work and reside in London?
She would not have shown up to the palace completely clueless on royal protocol. There are lots of chefs in England that could have filled in at the last minute---she would have been briefed and given the "proper badge" before ever being ushered into the private apartments. Who doesn't know the toddler prince is older than his sister? The frustrating and unnecessary blithering goes on ad nauseam, to the expense of what could be a good story. A few minor missteps here and there would have given her some character---ignorances of basic terms and phrases seem overly contrived and completely unbelievable.
The writing is very, very juvenile. The constant descriptions of clothing is irritating and the repetitious writing style makes me feel like I'm reading my nine year old self's attempts at fiction. Way too much unnecessary back and forth dialogue.
In my opinion, the problems with this book are not necessarily the fault of the author. They're the fault of the editor who didn't push her to do her research and make the experiences as authentic as possible. I think this is especially important when one is writing about something she's not familiar with.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
The many, many inaccurate English stereotypes were painful. "Cream tea" is not cream in the tea---they take milk. They wear "jeans and athletic shoes" just like we do---that's not a dead giveaway to being American. Everyone I've ever met from way up north to way down south dresses just like we Americans do. In fact, the complete idiocy of the main character is painful. ("How could you tell I was American---are my clothes that odd?" "No, it's your accent...") Um, duh? I've never had anyone in England ask me if I was American---they're smart enough to figure that out when I speak---but especially not in London. Does the author realize how many foreign-born people work and reside in London?
She would not have shown up to the palace completely clueless on royal protocol. There are lots of chefs in England that could have filled in at the last minute---she would have been briefed and given the "proper badge" before ever being ushered into the private apartments. Who doesn't know the toddler prince is older than his sister? The frustrating and unnecessary blithering goes on ad nauseam, to the expense of what could be a good story. A few minor missteps here and there would have given her some character---ignorances of basic terms and phrases seem overly contrived and completely unbelievable.
The writing is very, very juvenile. The constant descriptions of clothing is irritating and the repetitious writing style makes me feel like I'm reading my nine year old self's attempts at fiction. Way too much unnecessary back and forth dialogue.
In my opinion, the problems with this book are not necessarily the fault of the author. They're the fault of the editor who didn't push her to do her research and make the experiences as authentic as possible. I think this is especially important when one is writing about something she's not familiar with.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
March 30, 2017
Dollycas’s Thoughts
A fun debut for this series. It reminds me of Julie Hyzy’s White House Chef Mysteries.
Nell Hampton takes us behind the scenes of Kensington Palace as Chef Carrie Ann Cole leaves the U.S. to become the personal family chef for the Prince, Princess and their 2 children. She leaves her boyfriend of 6 years back in the States as they take a break so she call follow her dream. She hits the ground running preparing her first meal for the family soon after arriving at the palace. Then the next morning she finds one of her assistants dead and the other one is quickly arrested as the killer. What has she gotten herself into? She didn’t know her assistants well but she just can’t fathom that one would kill the other. So in addition to serving spectacular meals to her Royal Family, she now is trying to find a murderer. Head of Security Ian Gordon is not happy with her chopping her way into the case. His job is too keep everyone in the palace safe, including her, and she is making his job very difficult.
I liked Carrie Anne immediately. At first I thought she was going to in over her head with this important job, but as soon as she got into her kitchen she was in control. The other chef in the palace, Royal Chef Butterbottom, dislikes her immediately, first because he thinks he should be the only chef and second because she is an American. He has his own kitchen and takes care of the events and dinners at the palace. Carrie Anne cooks for the family. Due to circumstances beyond their control is becomes impossible to avoid each other. This adds a little unexpected drama to the story. The author introduces several other members of the palace staff. The Royal Family stays pretty much in the background.
The palace itself and the area surrounding it are new to Carrie Anne, so the reader gets to follow along with her as she learns all the floors, rooms, hallways and even some local pubs. She also takes “the tube” to get to the markets and interesting other places. The descriptions are stellar, even telling us what a trek it is to use the stairway instead the elevator when reaching her stop in the city. The kitchens, Carrie Anne’s suite, and traveling to and from are all written in a way that makes us feel like we are there or maybe a fly on the wall.
The mystery is so well plotted. Everything is new to our chef. She really knows no one, who can she trust and who would even listen to her ideas? Ian Gordon, the Head of Security, seems friendly enough but will he just humor her or take her seriously? The story progresses at a nice pace and Carrie Anne makes some questionable decisions. She really surprised me the way she didn’t hold back, she was going to find the truth no matter what.
This series is off to a fantastic start. Chef Carrie Ann Cole evolved ten fold from the first page to the last with just a couple of moments of doubt in between. I am very excited to see where the author takes us in future stories. The core characters have my attention. I can’t wait for my next visit across the pond.
A fun debut for this series. It reminds me of Julie Hyzy’s White House Chef Mysteries.
Nell Hampton takes us behind the scenes of Kensington Palace as Chef Carrie Ann Cole leaves the U.S. to become the personal family chef for the Prince, Princess and their 2 children. She leaves her boyfriend of 6 years back in the States as they take a break so she call follow her dream. She hits the ground running preparing her first meal for the family soon after arriving at the palace. Then the next morning she finds one of her assistants dead and the other one is quickly arrested as the killer. What has she gotten herself into? She didn’t know her assistants well but she just can’t fathom that one would kill the other. So in addition to serving spectacular meals to her Royal Family, she now is trying to find a murderer. Head of Security Ian Gordon is not happy with her chopping her way into the case. His job is too keep everyone in the palace safe, including her, and she is making his job very difficult.
I liked Carrie Anne immediately. At first I thought she was going to in over her head with this important job, but as soon as she got into her kitchen she was in control. The other chef in the palace, Royal Chef Butterbottom, dislikes her immediately, first because he thinks he should be the only chef and second because she is an American. He has his own kitchen and takes care of the events and dinners at the palace. Carrie Anne cooks for the family. Due to circumstances beyond their control is becomes impossible to avoid each other. This adds a little unexpected drama to the story. The author introduces several other members of the palace staff. The Royal Family stays pretty much in the background.
The palace itself and the area surrounding it are new to Carrie Anne, so the reader gets to follow along with her as she learns all the floors, rooms, hallways and even some local pubs. She also takes “the tube” to get to the markets and interesting other places. The descriptions are stellar, even telling us what a trek it is to use the stairway instead the elevator when reaching her stop in the city. The kitchens, Carrie Anne’s suite, and traveling to and from are all written in a way that makes us feel like we are there or maybe a fly on the wall.
The mystery is so well plotted. Everything is new to our chef. She really knows no one, who can she trust and who would even listen to her ideas? Ian Gordon, the Head of Security, seems friendly enough but will he just humor her or take her seriously? The story progresses at a nice pace and Carrie Anne makes some questionable decisions. She really surprised me the way she didn’t hold back, she was going to find the truth no matter what.
This series is off to a fantastic start. Chef Carrie Ann Cole evolved ten fold from the first page to the last with just a couple of moments of doubt in between. I am very excited to see where the author takes us in future stories. The core characters have my attention. I can’t wait for my next visit across the pond.
September 7, 2021
Well written, nicely paced, cozy mystery. An American woman commits to a year at Kensington Place as personal chef to the family of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Can she help solve a murder and still get supper on the table?
April 6, 2017
I was immediately drawn to the synopsis of this book due to the main character and her career. I related to Carrie Ann for being a chef and understood her ambitions and dreams. This was a wonderful, fun, and witty quick read, with enough suspense to make you not want to put it down, the Author's writing flowed perfectly. The characters were very well written and It made me feel as if I was there with Chef Cole the entire way. I can honestly say that i did not suspect that ending and am very pleased with the entire book all around. look forward to reading more from Nell Hampton in the future!
May 2, 2017
I have a love for all things British and all things food, that's how I knew Kale to the queen would be a perfect read. Well plotted, packed with danger and suspense. I'm a big fan of the royal family and Kale to the Queen was an entertaining glimpse into a fun, fictional world of them.
Interesting and genuinely British character and Chef Carrie Ann Cole has become a new favorite. Her romantic life is in shambles. I loved the setting of the crime in a greenhouse bed and the killer was close to home but a total surprise. I can't wait to read and review the next book in the series.
Interesting and genuinely British character and Chef Carrie Ann Cole has become a new favorite. Her romantic life is in shambles. I loved the setting of the crime in a greenhouse bed and the killer was close to home but a total surprise. I can't wait to read and review the next book in the series.
March 19, 2017
Kale to the Queen introduces us to Carrie Ann Cole as she starts her new job as personal chef to the Duke and Duchess at Kensington Palace. She leaves Chicago, everything she knows, to follow her dream to create healthy interesting meals. Her trip starts off wrong from the beginning, her chef boyfriend wants a break, she gets soaked, she is late, and of course jet lagged.
As Carrie Ann tries to adjust to time change and her new role, she finds one of her two assistants murdered in the greenhouse next to her kitchen. She and her other assistant are questioned about the murder and she is thrown into a murder mystery in a new country with seemingly no one to turn to.
This book was so exciting and fast paced from the first page. You cannot help but relate to the characters and get drawn into the story from the first word. The author put so many twists and turns in the plot, it definitely keeps the reader engaged in the story with seemingly no effort at all. This is definitely a wonderful start on what promises to be a great culinary mystery series.
As Carrie Ann tries to adjust to time change and her new role, she finds one of her two assistants murdered in the greenhouse next to her kitchen. She and her other assistant are questioned about the murder and she is thrown into a murder mystery in a new country with seemingly no one to turn to.
This book was so exciting and fast paced from the first page. You cannot help but relate to the characters and get drawn into the story from the first word. The author put so many twists and turns in the plot, it definitely keeps the reader engaged in the story with seemingly no effort at all. This is definitely a wonderful start on what promises to be a great culinary mystery series.
June 16, 2017
Chef Carrie Ann Cole travels to London to work for the duke and duchess of Cambridge at Kensington Palace. She hasn't even recovered from jet lag when one of her two assistants, Frank, is found murdered in the greenhouse just outside the kitchen door! The other assistant, Michael, is accused of the crime. Carrie is a strong protagonist who thinks quickly on her feet and I liked her immediately. I also was in favor of the attraction she almost instantly felt for Ian Gordon, the head of palace security--he struck me as a great guy. The supporting cast of characters are mainly British; thus, stern and proper in their work for the royals. The plot moves forward at a steady pace. I somehow had a strong feeling about who the real killer might be and found out I was correct at the end. I think this debut series is a bit of a different cozy idea--an American employed overseas as the personal family chef for part of the royal family. I enjoyed the story and look forward to reading book two. Culinary fans will find some delicious recipes at the end, also.
July 8, 2018
A fun cozy foodie mystery set in Kensington Palace! I adore anything to do with the royal family so this was great :-)
March 19, 2017
It's not often I give 4 stars to a cozy. The key word for this debut novel and first in what promises to be a great series is balance. The key characters were human- showing both those great qualities and some of those poor choice qualities. There were no annoying characters as I've stumbled on in other cozies. And bless Nell Hampton there wasn't a dog or cat in sight! I myself have grown a little weary of the ever present animal companion as I have the love triangle. I give kudos to a unique setting that I hope we get to see more of in the next novels as well as London in general. Though there's the potential for Carrie Ann to do a little traveling with the royal family so we could end up in all kinds of places. The plot was quick and I was eager to hunker down and continue reading every night until I finished. There was balance to the investigation and to Carrie Ann's personal life. Everything flowed and ebbed! I would highly recommend this to any cozy reader!!!
March 23, 2023
This was a wonderful read. The story moved quickly and before I realized it I had finished the book. I can't wait for the next one. My only complaint is the lack of recipes. I was hoping for many more, and maybe of the ones she made in the book. There were only 4 of them. I'm used to JoAnne Fluke books with a dozen or more. :(
April 19, 2017
I really loved this book.. I wasn't sure I would because I tend to stay away from English cozies but this was about an American chef who is hired to be the family chef to Prince William, the Duchess of Cambridge and the royal heirs. The mystery was very well-written, the plot had nice twists, and there were several elements of light romance. I highly recommend!!
** I won this book from a cozy mystery giveaway. My desire to write a review was entirely voluntary and the thoughts and opinions are entirely my own..
** I won this book from a cozy mystery giveaway. My desire to write a review was entirely voluntary and the thoughts and opinions are entirely my own..
May 17, 2023
For my thoughts on this book and others check out my cozy mystery YouTube channel @: https://www.youtube.com/@theBeachbumb...
June 12, 2017
I was a big fan of Julie Hyzy's White House chef mystery series, so this book was immediately on my radar and I'm glad it was. What a fun read! Kale to the Queen did not disappoint in any way. The setting is terrific and the characters are wonderful. I'm looking forward to the next installment.
December 29, 2018
Non male. Mi è piaciuta l'ambientazione e come è stata ritratta la duchessa di Cambridge, che qui ha due rapidi cammeo. In un paio di punti il racconto non mi ha del tutto convinto e ho capito quasi subito chi fosse il colpevole, ma leggerò comunque il seguito.
June 16, 2017
Absolutely loved this book! This will be a favorite series of mine for sure. Can't wait for the next one.
March 19, 2017
What is there not to love about Kale to the Queen? You get to go behind the scenes of royal life at Kensington Palace with a (gasp!) American personal chef who cooks for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their family. The machinations and security of Palace life are so interesting, and Nell Hampton does a wonderful job of describing them. I must admit that Mrs. Worth had me trembling in my shoes a bit, and I loved the name for the Palace chef, Chef Butterbottom. The characters are engaging, the mystery intriguing, and Chef Carrie Ann Cole is a delightful protagonist who puts all of herself into her healthy cooking for the Duke and Duchess's family and still finds time to investigate the murder of one of her sous chefs that has all of Kensington Palace up in arms. Could the murderer have been a Palace insider, or worse, someone from the outside who breached the seemingly airtight palace security?
I highly recommend this book and absolutely cannot wait for the next installment!
I voluntarily received a copy of this book and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
I highly recommend this book and absolutely cannot wait for the next installment!
I voluntarily received a copy of this book and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
October 27, 2017
This is the first book in a new series and I enjoyed it. Carrie Ann Cole is the new personal chef for the Duke and Duchess of Kensington and their two children. She leaves her boyfriend of six years back in Chicago for her dream job. He determines that they should use this time for a break from their relationship. The second there, she finds one of her assistants dead in the greenhouse and her other assistant is quickly arrested for the murder. Chef Cole doesn't really know her assistants that well, but she has a feeling that someone else is responsible. She begins to ask questions and develop a theory about the crime.
There were several things I really liked about this book. Most of the cozies I have read that are set in Britian are historical, so it was nice to have this one in present day. I also liked that the main character is not just an amateur sleuth, but has a job, a job that keeps her very busy. It was interesting to see how strict the household was run and all the security measures. It felt a bit Downton Abbeyish with the head of the staff being rather staid, but she did soften as the story went on. Carrie Ann is a very likeable character who makes friends easily. She is generous and others seem attracted to her. Even the crotchety Chef Butterbottom softens to her a bit. I like that there are a couple of male characters who could possibly be romantic interests in the future. The mystery was well paced with Carrie Ann getting into a couple of dicey situations. There were a couple of minor issues such as, some of the dialogue was a bit stilted at the beginning of the book, but it seemed to be fine as the story went on and I didn't need to know every single thing the family and children ate, although it would be nice to see some of the menus. Overall this was a well paced story with a mystery that was interesting. The culprit was not on my radar, but it certainly fit when the reasoning was given for his murder. I am looking forward to the next book in this series. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via netgalley.
There were several things I really liked about this book. Most of the cozies I have read that are set in Britian are historical, so it was nice to have this one in present day. I also liked that the main character is not just an amateur sleuth, but has a job, a job that keeps her very busy. It was interesting to see how strict the household was run and all the security measures. It felt a bit Downton Abbeyish with the head of the staff being rather staid, but she did soften as the story went on. Carrie Ann is a very likeable character who makes friends easily. She is generous and others seem attracted to her. Even the crotchety Chef Butterbottom softens to her a bit. I like that there are a couple of male characters who could possibly be romantic interests in the future. The mystery was well paced with Carrie Ann getting into a couple of dicey situations. There were a couple of minor issues such as, some of the dialogue was a bit stilted at the beginning of the book, but it seemed to be fine as the story went on and I didn't need to know every single thing the family and children ate, although it would be nice to see some of the menus. Overall this was a well paced story with a mystery that was interesting. The culprit was not on my radar, but it certainly fit when the reasoning was given for his murder. I am looking forward to the next book in this series. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via netgalley.
June 30, 2017
So.
I really wanted to like this one, but it fell very flat for me.
I didn't find the main character, Carrie Anne, to be anything but shrill and full of herself. There are things she does in the story for which she should apologize or at least try to see the other's point of view, but instead she shrieks and stomps and slams doors. I do not like this.
And every good looking male that comes along is immediately attracted to her and tells her how beautiful she is. She even tells us early on that she is naturally pretty with no makeup. Well, congratulations you! How nice.
Carrie is a know-it-all. She immediately can advise someone because she googled some info. Come on. She barges into people's lives uninvited and if I were them, I'd wonder why this person feels the need to come along and tell me what I should be thinking or doing. Again, I found it difficult to like the main character, which is never a good sign.
As others have stated, I think if you're going to write books about London and Kensington Palace and the royals, some research should be done. This never gave me the feeling that the author actually knew anything about any of this and it might have worked better with an imaginary royal family or maybe an imaginary country. I don't know.
The mystery isn't very involving and Carrie Anne's involvement in it made little sense to me. A man she barely knows is murdered and another man she barely knows is accused of the crime and against all evidence to the contrary, she is the only one who knows the truth. No. Just no.
If the story and the mystery were involving I could put up with her, I suppose, but there are no red herrings, no false leads and so the mystery is a bit flat.
The language is rough. I don't think that's intentional, but the sentence structure is juvenile. About two or three chapters in, I became aware of the "I". What is meant by that is I became aware that every other sentence started with I. Now, you might say, well, it's told in first person so of course there is a lot of that. But with complex sentences and a little more skill and polish, that can be avoided. I've read lots of books in first person in which I am not so aware of the I.
And then there is the over description of rooms and floors and windows and simply too much. And one woman Carrie Anne describes as average looking. Why? Oh, I remember, everyone thinks you're beautiful so it's okay for you to judge other women's looks to yourself. Okay then.
And the names of some of the characters are plain silly. Chef Butterbottom. Detective Garotte. I don't know if the author is trying to make this light-hearted or what, but silly names don't work in this instance.
This is the start of a series. It's a great premise and maybe, hopefully, the author will improve her writing and her editors will improve the editing. Even though I found some of the characters interesting, I don't think I'd sign up for more.
I really wanted to like this one, but it fell very flat for me.
I didn't find the main character, Carrie Anne, to be anything but shrill and full of herself. There are things she does in the story for which she should apologize or at least try to see the other's point of view, but instead she shrieks and stomps and slams doors. I do not like this.
And every good looking male that comes along is immediately attracted to her and tells her how beautiful she is. She even tells us early on that she is naturally pretty with no makeup. Well, congratulations you! How nice.
Carrie is a know-it-all. She immediately can advise someone because she googled some info. Come on. She barges into people's lives uninvited and if I were them, I'd wonder why this person feels the need to come along and tell me what I should be thinking or doing. Again, I found it difficult to like the main character, which is never a good sign.
As others have stated, I think if you're going to write books about London and Kensington Palace and the royals, some research should be done. This never gave me the feeling that the author actually knew anything about any of this and it might have worked better with an imaginary royal family or maybe an imaginary country. I don't know.
The mystery isn't very involving and Carrie Anne's involvement in it made little sense to me. A man she barely knows is murdered and another man she barely knows is accused of the crime and against all evidence to the contrary, she is the only one who knows the truth. No. Just no.
If the story and the mystery were involving I could put up with her, I suppose, but there are no red herrings, no false leads and so the mystery is a bit flat.
The language is rough. I don't think that's intentional, but the sentence structure is juvenile. About two or three chapters in, I became aware of the "I". What is meant by that is I became aware that every other sentence started with I. Now, you might say, well, it's told in first person so of course there is a lot of that. But with complex sentences and a little more skill and polish, that can be avoided. I've read lots of books in first person in which I am not so aware of the I.
And then there is the over description of rooms and floors and windows and simply too much. And one woman Carrie Anne describes as average looking. Why? Oh, I remember, everyone thinks you're beautiful so it's okay for you to judge other women's looks to yourself. Okay then.
And the names of some of the characters are plain silly. Chef Butterbottom. Detective Garotte. I don't know if the author is trying to make this light-hearted or what, but silly names don't work in this instance.
This is the start of a series. It's a great premise and maybe, hopefully, the author will improve her writing and her editors will improve the editing. Even though I found some of the characters interesting, I don't think I'd sign up for more.
July 9, 2017
I gave up on page 194. Despite being told explicitly that Meriam does not tell people she has cancer, within hours Chef Cole is telling a guy she just met seconds before, and his brother, the gardener, in her second conversation ever! with him, while throwing down shots of the "finest whiskey". (I'm not a huge whisky drinker, but I believe you're supposed to savor the good stuff and drink it slowly).
She also shares the fact that two men have been threatening Haregrove and possibly the Deems family over money, and that there is insurance money to pay them off. This group of gossips throw in a little Psych 101 (not joking), and leap to a conclusion of gambling.
Yet Chef Cole thinks it's because she's American that so many of the characters in the book seem to dislike her. On top of that, she initially doesn't share these tidbits, or the fact that two men were arguing, with the Head of Security because it's hearsay -she Must Get Proof First!
Editing could be better. From the English tea with cream, unrealistic palace protocol (she would not have started work without a proper id badge), and the sentence on pg 34 where Chef Cole "poured over the details" - maybe with some tea with cream.
Do they even call it Psych 101 in English Universities? "The Oxford English Dictionary finds the first use of "101" as an introductory course number in a 1929 University of Buffalo course catalog."
And why???? would they demolish the physical greenhouse structure because someone was murdered? I thought Deems was bludgeoned. Even if he was poisoned - it wouldn't penetrate the glass. And why is the gardener doing the demolition?
I'm off to look for another series.
She also shares the fact that two men have been threatening Haregrove and possibly the Deems family over money, and that there is insurance money to pay them off. This group of gossips throw in a little Psych 101 (not joking), and leap to a conclusion of gambling.
Yet Chef Cole thinks it's because she's American that so many of the characters in the book seem to dislike her. On top of that, she initially doesn't share these tidbits, or the fact that two men were arguing, with the Head of Security because it's hearsay -she Must Get Proof First!
Editing could be better. From the English tea with cream, unrealistic palace protocol (she would not have started work without a proper id badge), and the sentence on pg 34 where Chef Cole "poured over the details" - maybe with some tea with cream.
Do they even call it Psych 101 in English Universities? "The Oxford English Dictionary finds the first use of "101" as an introductory course number in a 1929 University of Buffalo course catalog."
And why???? would they demolish the physical greenhouse structure because someone was murdered? I thought Deems was bludgeoned. Even if he was poisoned - it wouldn't penetrate the glass. And why is the gardener doing the demolition?
I'm off to look for another series.
October 14, 2018
Interesting storyline, entertaining characters, several red herrings!
June 4, 2017
A new series faintly reminiscent of Julia Hyzy's White House Chef series, this book was a winner!
Carrie Ann is a wonderful main character. She is strong, thoughtful and kind, and, for the most part, she didn't force her way into the investigation. Though Carrie Ann was a great character, to me, it was the secondary characters that stood out. Mrs. Worth, Jasper, Michael, Ian, Penny, and Phoebe were all fun characters that I hope we see a lot more of in the next book!
The mystery was well plotted and solid. I din't really suspect the killer, but it fit together nicely and made sense. However, the ending seemed a little bit rushed to me. I think too much action was fit into the few pages of the reveal. Really, though, that's typical for most first in a series books, so I'm not worried about it. The setting was a dream; Kensington Palace!
Overall a wonderful book that will leave you wanting more. I absolutely can't wait for the next one to come out! Highly recommend!
Carrie Ann is a wonderful main character. She is strong, thoughtful and kind, and, for the most part, she didn't force her way into the investigation. Though Carrie Ann was a great character, to me, it was the secondary characters that stood out. Mrs. Worth, Jasper, Michael, Ian, Penny, and Phoebe were all fun characters that I hope we see a lot more of in the next book!
The mystery was well plotted and solid. I din't really suspect the killer, but it fit together nicely and made sense. However, the ending seemed a little bit rushed to me. I think too much action was fit into the few pages of the reveal. Really, though, that's typical for most first in a series books, so I'm not worried about it. The setting was a dream; Kensington Palace!
Overall a wonderful book that will leave you wanting more. I absolutely can't wait for the next one to come out! Highly recommend!
March 9, 2017
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March 12, 2017
**I voluntarily reviewed this ARC**
Oh my gosh I loved this book! It is an amazing start to a new series, and I honestly couldn't put it down! The mystery was really well-written, with a variety of great suspects. I absolutely loved the setting, and how Carrie Ann has to adjust to England. Also - I had fun giggling every time I read "Butterbottom".
Oh my gosh I loved this book! It is an amazing start to a new series, and I honestly couldn't put it down! The mystery was really well-written, with a variety of great suspects. I absolutely loved the setting, and how Carrie Ann has to adjust to England. Also - I had fun giggling every time I read "Butterbottom".
April 7, 2017
KALE TO THE QUEEN by Nell Hampton
The First Kensington Palace Chef Mystery
Chef Carrie Ann Cole has the opportunity of a lifetime when she accepts the position of family chef for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Leaving her rising start chef boyfriend back in Chicago, Carrie Ann is certain they can make a long distance relationship work for the year she's abroad. Now she needs to concentrate on the intricacies of life in the palace while providing healthy food for the duchess and her family. Adjusting to jet lag, Chef Cole is in her kitchen planning the meals for the week ahead when she goes into the attached greenhouse. In addition to the fresh greens she's collected she also finds the body of one of her assistants-murdered! With such tight palace security, how is it possible? When her second assistant is accused of the crime, Carrie Ann vows to prove his innocence and have him work alongside her once again.
KALE TO THE QUEEN is a pleasurable read with likable characters and an interesting mystery. Unfortunately, it also has several issues which detracted from my enjoyment. First of all, there are major errors regarding making tea. Carrie Ann doesn't warm the tea pot and then she puts cream in the tea! You drink tea with milk (if you like) not cream. Is she thinking of a cream tea? A cream tea is a scone with jam and cream and a cup of tea, not putting cream in the tea. She makes a point of putting the cream in first, which is historically accurate (if it was milk) as putting it in afterward could crack the delicate porcelain cup of days gone by, but not strictly necessary today. There is also a question, American tea or British tea? What is American tea? A mug with a tea bag with boiling water poured over? Although off putting I wouldn't be so critical of the errors if the author hadn't made a point of stating that Chef Carrie Ann spent a week learning to make proper tea from Mrs. Warwick, who hails from London. Mrs. Warwick must be some sort of huckster!
I found myself intrigued as the book continued, but I couldn't help but notice I was nearing the final pages, with no ending in sight. The book did finish, but the ending was abrupt. The author gave the killer a good motive, but then made an addition which was contrived and included more inaccuracies, which I will not detail as I don't want to give away any spoilers.
I did appreciate Carrie Ann's personal growth through the history, realizing the importance of her own dreams and reaching for them instead of playing second fiddle in both her career and her personal life.
The Kensington Palace Chef Mystery series has lots of promise. I hope that future installments will pay closer attention to detail and flush out the ending, while maintaining its fresh upbeat style.
Recipes included.
FTC Disclosure – The publisher sent me a copy of this book in the hopes I would review it.
The First Kensington Palace Chef Mystery
Chef Carrie Ann Cole has the opportunity of a lifetime when she accepts the position of family chef for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Leaving her rising start chef boyfriend back in Chicago, Carrie Ann is certain they can make a long distance relationship work for the year she's abroad. Now she needs to concentrate on the intricacies of life in the palace while providing healthy food for the duchess and her family. Adjusting to jet lag, Chef Cole is in her kitchen planning the meals for the week ahead when she goes into the attached greenhouse. In addition to the fresh greens she's collected she also finds the body of one of her assistants-murdered! With such tight palace security, how is it possible? When her second assistant is accused of the crime, Carrie Ann vows to prove his innocence and have him work alongside her once again.
KALE TO THE QUEEN is a pleasurable read with likable characters and an interesting mystery. Unfortunately, it also has several issues which detracted from my enjoyment. First of all, there are major errors regarding making tea. Carrie Ann doesn't warm the tea pot and then she puts cream in the tea! You drink tea with milk (if you like) not cream. Is she thinking of a cream tea? A cream tea is a scone with jam and cream and a cup of tea, not putting cream in the tea. She makes a point of putting the cream in first, which is historically accurate (if it was milk) as putting it in afterward could crack the delicate porcelain cup of days gone by, but not strictly necessary today. There is also a question, American tea or British tea? What is American tea? A mug with a tea bag with boiling water poured over? Although off putting I wouldn't be so critical of the errors if the author hadn't made a point of stating that Chef Carrie Ann spent a week learning to make proper tea from Mrs. Warwick, who hails from London. Mrs. Warwick must be some sort of huckster!
I found myself intrigued as the book continued, but I couldn't help but notice I was nearing the final pages, with no ending in sight. The book did finish, but the ending was abrupt. The author gave the killer a good motive, but then made an addition which was contrived and included more inaccuracies, which I will not detail as I don't want to give away any spoilers.
I did appreciate Carrie Ann's personal growth through the history, realizing the importance of her own dreams and reaching for them instead of playing second fiddle in both her career and her personal life.
The Kensington Palace Chef Mystery series has lots of promise. I hope that future installments will pay closer attention to detail and flush out the ending, while maintaining its fresh upbeat style.
Recipes included.
FTC Disclosure – The publisher sent me a copy of this book in the hopes I would review it.
April 9, 2018
Kensington Palace.
Chef Carrie Ann Cole has left Chicago to work as a personal chef for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their two children in Kensington Palace. Her second day on the job she finds the body of one of her assistants in the greenhouse. Her other assistant is immediately arrested form the murder. Carrie Ann feels that something is not quite right about the arrest even though she has only known the men for less than a day.
What a lovely start to a series! The characters are well developed. Even with the amount of people introduced I was able to keep everyone clear in my mind. The temperamental main chef, Jeffery Butterbottom made me smile with his over the top personality. Of course Ian Gordon, head of security, had to be an attractive man. Carrie Ann's long time boyfriend seems to fade into the background. There is a potential love triangle with the introduction of the gardener as well.
The mystery is well done and throws a few twists and turns at us to keep us guessing. The eventual outcome was just sad for me.
I really enjoyed the information about simple nutritious meals for the wee prince and princess. The strict rooms about working with royalty were interesting. I cannot imagine what kind of scheduling nightmare it would be to run Kensington Palace.
This is a bright, fresh new series that I look forward to reading more of. I think the fact that it is a modern British cozy helps as well. It's nice to see England in an up to date series.
I recommend this series and can't wait to read the next book.
Chef Carrie Ann Cole has left Chicago to work as a personal chef for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their two children in Kensington Palace. Her second day on the job she finds the body of one of her assistants in the greenhouse. Her other assistant is immediately arrested form the murder. Carrie Ann feels that something is not quite right about the arrest even though she has only known the men for less than a day.
What a lovely start to a series! The characters are well developed. Even with the amount of people introduced I was able to keep everyone clear in my mind. The temperamental main chef, Jeffery Butterbottom made me smile with his over the top personality. Of course Ian Gordon, head of security, had to be an attractive man. Carrie Ann's long time boyfriend seems to fade into the background. There is a potential love triangle with the introduction of the gardener as well.
The mystery is well done and throws a few twists and turns at us to keep us guessing. The eventual outcome was just sad for me.
I really enjoyed the information about simple nutritious meals for the wee prince and princess. The strict rooms about working with royalty were interesting. I cannot imagine what kind of scheduling nightmare it would be to run Kensington Palace.
This is a bright, fresh new series that I look forward to reading more of. I think the fact that it is a modern British cozy helps as well. It's nice to see England in an up to date series.
I recommend this series and can't wait to read the next book.
February 6, 2017
I loved it. Growing up my maternal grandfather went out of his way to share his love of the royal family with me. I Have always loved and admired the Royal family, following the ups and the downs and the celebrations. I have watched every wedding and funeral with awe, respect and wonder. So when I learned about this very fictional cozy mystery about the Royal family I was very interested. This is a great cozy. I thought the story was very plausible, even given the circumstances. I loved the mystery but I did have a good idea who the murderer was. The food references were wonderful, and I appreciated the banter and hierarchy of the relationships between all the characters in this book. It felt real to me, having worked in kitchens as a chef, the time lines, the menus along with the bravado of the chefs was familiar and even comforting. I enjoyed this book and I am so looking forward to reading more in this series. If you love BBC, or PBS programming about life of the aristocracy and royal family you are going to love Kale to the Queen.
September 16, 2018
3.5 stars. I like this series. It's fun and light with our gal Chef Carrie Ann Cole from Chicago getting a new gig at Kensington Palace. Of course she found a body and went to solve the mystery.
April 10, 2017
Kale to the Queen by Nell Hampton is the first book in A Kensington Palace Chef Mystery series. Carrie Ann Cole from Chicago, Illinois has just been hired to be the personal chef to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Carrie Ann arrives to work early the next morning and enters the greenhouse attached to the kitchen to pick what she needs. In the kale section, Carrie Ann stumbles upon Frank Deems, one of her assistants. It is obvious that Frank is dead, and Carrie Ann rushes to get assistance. Ian Gordon, the security chief, swiftly arrives on the scene. Blame is quickly laid on Michael Haregrove, Carrie Ann’s food prep assistant. Though she has not known Michael long, Carrie Ann knows he did not kill Frank. Carrie Ann is determined to clear Michael’s name so he can return to work. Her investigation time is limited because meals still need to be cooked and served to the royal family. Carrie Ann is off to a bumpy start in Kensington Palace, and Chef Butterbottom is less than friendly. Chef Butterbottom does not like American’s and is very particular about his kitchen (likes the floor to be scrubbed with a brush by hand). A further wrinkle in Carrie Ann’s new life is Chicago boyfriend, John. John’s cooking star is on the rise and he had no wish to relocate with Carrie Ann. But then he shows up in her quarter’s one night with unexpected offer. Carrie Ann will need to make a decision. To see how Carrie Ann investigation turns out and her choice, check out Kale to the Queen.
I enjoyed reading Kale to the Queen. It has a wonderful setting, lovely descriptions of food and London, and a delightful main character. The book is well-written and has a good pace. I did find Carrie Ann a little too chatty with regard to the mystery. She should have been more discreet with her investigation. I also did not feel we needed a description of every item of food that Carrie Ann made for the royal family. I can understand some food imagery, but not every single dish (especially those made for the children). I liked how Carrie Ann evolved over the course of the story. It was nice to see her grow from her experience and face some realities about her relationship with John. I give Kale to the Queen 4 out of 5 stars. While the mystery was interesting, there was a very limited suspect pool. I thought the identity of the killer was apparent. I wish the author had made it a little more complex (added more depth/layers). There is a new love interest for Carrie Ann, and he seems to be a mysterious fellow (much better than the Chicago boyfriend). I just hope that the author develops the relationship slowly and keeps it playing softly in the background (it is a mystery not a romance novel). Kale to the Queen captured my interest right away and held it throughout the story. I thought this was a good first book in the series and I will definitely be reading the next book in A Kensington Palace Chef Mystery.
I enjoyed reading Kale to the Queen. It has a wonderful setting, lovely descriptions of food and London, and a delightful main character. The book is well-written and has a good pace. I did find Carrie Ann a little too chatty with regard to the mystery. She should have been more discreet with her investigation. I also did not feel we needed a description of every item of food that Carrie Ann made for the royal family. I can understand some food imagery, but not every single dish (especially those made for the children). I liked how Carrie Ann evolved over the course of the story. It was nice to see her grow from her experience and face some realities about her relationship with John. I give Kale to the Queen 4 out of 5 stars. While the mystery was interesting, there was a very limited suspect pool. I thought the identity of the killer was apparent. I wish the author had made it a little more complex (added more depth/layers). There is a new love interest for Carrie Ann, and he seems to be a mysterious fellow (much better than the Chicago boyfriend). I just hope that the author develops the relationship slowly and keeps it playing softly in the background (it is a mystery not a romance novel). Kale to the Queen captured my interest right away and held it throughout the story. I thought this was a good first book in the series and I will definitely be reading the next book in A Kensington Palace Chef Mystery.
April 15, 2018
I finished two cozy mystery series lately (or at least their last books feel like finales) and so of course, I had to jump right into a new series. Kale to the Queen had one of those cozy covers that I love and a blurb that also charmed so this went right on my TBR last year before it came out.
Chef Carrie Ann Cole is an expat newly in service to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, as their growing family's personal chef. As if the trans-Atlantic jet lag isn't enough to contend with, Carrie Ann is dealing with an irascible Chef Butterbottom (with none of the wit of Gareth Blackstock, just the screaming self-importance) and one of her staff turns up dead within her first 48 hours on the job. She's a bit up against it but has a plucky determination to keep her schedule and job duties while also sleuthing and trying to sort out her "on a break" long-distance boyfriend situation.
The setup is well done here and I also have to give points to many descriptions of the food she prepares. It all sounds scrummy and the recipes in the back of the book don't disappoint (that Spring Fritatta alone is enough for winner status here). As with most cozies, we meet quite a few people here and don't delve too deeply into most of them and it feels like any other village/small town cozy. Carrie Ann even gets to interact with two guys which hint as possible love interests further down the line. The ending solution to the whodunit was timely and quite sad and I liked that very much. All boxes ticked.
But there were a few drawbacks. Some of the characterisations felt a bit off. From Carrie Ann's odd asking people how they knew she was American (speaking gives that away) and one Londoner saying it wasn't her accent, but her jeans (someone call Vic Beckham and let her know that Rock & Republic jeans aren't a thing) and athletic shoes (burn all the trainers). Additionally, there's a repeated offering of cream in tea and I'm familiar it being with milk (that's probably a small niggle though). Some characters felt more like caricatures than actual characters but that does happen in cozies so, no problem on that front. And finally, I really don't know how I feel about the Duchess of Cambridge and the wee Prince and Princess being a interacting characters in the story. It read like it should be charming but it broke a wall for me that took me out of the story. All I could wonder is if the latest awaited prince/princess was in utero already in this story and will the next book have a Pippa or James sighting or a Harry and Meghan wedding mention? Will Carrie Ann cook for them in an emergency too? It was distracting.
All things considered, I enjoyed this and will be picking up the next one in the series very soon. First books in a series can be a little bumpy so I'm eager to see if some of the issues I had here will be smoothed out. Definitely recommended.
Chef Carrie Ann Cole is an expat newly in service to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, as their growing family's personal chef. As if the trans-Atlantic jet lag isn't enough to contend with, Carrie Ann is dealing with an irascible Chef Butterbottom (with none of the wit of Gareth Blackstock, just the screaming self-importance) and one of her staff turns up dead within her first 48 hours on the job. She's a bit up against it but has a plucky determination to keep her schedule and job duties while also sleuthing and trying to sort out her "on a break" long-distance boyfriend situation.
The setup is well done here and I also have to give points to many descriptions of the food she prepares. It all sounds scrummy and the recipes in the back of the book don't disappoint (that Spring Fritatta alone is enough for winner status here). As with most cozies, we meet quite a few people here and don't delve too deeply into most of them and it feels like any other village/small town cozy. Carrie Ann even gets to interact with two guys which hint as possible love interests further down the line. The ending solution to the whodunit was timely and quite sad and I liked that very much. All boxes ticked.
But there were a few drawbacks. Some of the characterisations felt a bit off. From Carrie Ann's odd asking people how they knew she was American (speaking gives that away) and one Londoner saying it wasn't her accent, but her jeans (someone call Vic Beckham and let her know that Rock & Republic jeans aren't a thing) and athletic shoes (burn all the trainers). Additionally, there's a repeated offering of cream in tea and I'm familiar it being with milk (that's probably a small niggle though). Some characters felt more like caricatures than actual characters but that does happen in cozies so, no problem on that front. And finally, I really don't know how I feel about the Duchess of Cambridge and the wee Prince and Princess being a interacting characters in the story. It read like it should be charming but it broke a wall for me that took me out of the story. All I could wonder is if the latest awaited prince/princess was in utero already in this story and will the next book have a Pippa or James sighting or a Harry and Meghan wedding mention? Will Carrie Ann cook for them in an emergency too? It was distracting.
All things considered, I enjoyed this and will be picking up the next one in the series very soon. First books in a series can be a little bumpy so I'm eager to see if some of the issues I had here will be smoothed out. Definitely recommended.
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