The Château Murder

Molly Sutton Mysteries #5

by Nell Goddin

A dead Baron. A missing emerald. And way too many suspects.Amateur sleuth Molly Sutton has her hands full this time! Shut out of Castillac’s latest murder case and running out of money, she’s praying for a brilliant scheme or at least some dumb luck to strike. Believing good food can be the solution to almost any problem, she comes up with a culinary idea designed to stave off financial disaster—and finds that even a perfect meal can end up a flop.As for the poor late Baron, once Molly manages to get inside the Château, she quickly pokes her nose where it doesn’t belong. But looking for clues and uncovering secrets is a risky business, and this time Molly ends up with her own life in danger.

Genres: Mystery, France, Audiobook, Cozy Mystery, Crime, Detective, Fiction

296 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 1, 2016

About the author

She has worked as a radio reporter, SAT tutor, short-order omelet chef, and baker. She tried waitressing but was fired twice.

Nell grew up in Richmond, Virginia and has lived in New England, New York City, and France. Currently she's back in Virginia with teenagers and far too many pets. She has degrees from Dartmouth College and Columbia University.

Reviews

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I saw that a new Molly Sutton book was available, I happily set aside two books I had just checked out at the public library that morning so that I could start it immediately. About twenty-four hours later, I closed my Kindle with a satisfied click and a sigh. I wish I had the next book in the series already.

I don’t usually try to deduce anything about mystery plots; honestly, I usually don’t care who committed the crime as long as I am captivated by the story. The Castillac books delight me with croissants and characters and the charming French village itself. This time, for some reason, I did lie in bed trying to solve the case. I actually reviewed the facts and principal players and gave it some serious thought. Let me tell you, I was never even a little close in my assessment. The end came as a complete surprise to me.

Each book is better than the last, and the characters are becoming my friends as well as Molly’s. I hope Nell Goddin is well along with the next book so I don’t have to wait too long!

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

THE CHATEAU MURDER by Nell Goddin is the 5th Molly Sutton Mystery.
There is a murder at the Chateau Marainte. The Baron de Fleuray has been shot in his salon.
When the Baroness asks Molly to look into the disappearance of the Baron’s very valuable emerald, Molly jumps at the chance to ply her detective skills.
Good Points:
I love the book covers featuring rustic doorways.
We are in the lovely Dordogne Region of southwestern France.
Tasty foods and pastries are featured.
There is a glossary of helpful French words and expressions included.
Negative Points:
The plot is almost non-existent and what there is, meanders without much purpose.
The characters are not very detailed.
There isn’t enough ‘localness’ or sense of place.
The local police are portrayed as inept. (I really don’t like this.)
Molly is a standard cozy mystery heroine - extremely nosy and ‘in your face’.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Molly Sutton still loves running her "gites" (guesthouses) in the French village of Castillac, but during the off-season her finances begin to run low. She decides to have a cooking contest like the ones on TV. At the same time, a local baron is murdered. Molly doesn't feel she can help much with solving the case since Ben Duford retired from police work and has gone to Thailand on an extended vacation. However, the baron's wife does ask Molly to help search the chateau for a missing jewel that the baron had hidden. Snooping is Molly's forte', so she pokes around. She is looking not only for the jewel, but for clues to the murder.

[B Howard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Supposed to be "Nancy Drew for adults" but takes place in France. I expected it to be a US location. There was no dictionary and it was fruustrating not knowing the meaning of many French words. When I had finished, I found a glossary at the end but wish the French words had been translated while reading the book. But otherwise I like how this author writes. A lot of unexpected surprises in the plot. I did not guess who the murderer was. The ending was very good, but not sure I want to read any more in the series. C. 2016.

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder strikes again in the charming French village of Castillac and Molly Sutton, American Ex-Pat and Gite owner, is on the case. The victim is Baron Marcel Fleuray, owner of the fabulous emerald La Sfortuna, and Molly is hired by his widow, Antoinette, to find the emerald. In between trying to solve Marcel’s murder and find La Sfortuna, she must also find a way to keep her struggling B&B afloat through the off season. A fun, light hearted cosy with a winning sleuth!

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Molly is hired to find the priceless emerald that went missing when the local baron was shot. She is without her friendly PI, has money woes, and gets really creative while sifting through more gossip than usual. Another fun read!
I enjoyed the narration by voice artist Becket Royce who really does a fine job!
#audiobook #MollySuttonMysteries5 #AuthorSales

[Carol Eshaghy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the Molly Sutton murders. The Baron in the chateau in Castillac has been murdered, shot with his own gun. A huge emerald he inherited from his dead sister is missing. Molly is hired by the Baroness to try to locate it. The Baron was known to hide it in the chateau. Of course, Molly can’t resist snooping around trying to solve the murder too.

[Janet Sketchley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm enjoying this series. The murders aren't gruesome, the characters are pleasant, the village setting is charming, and oh, the food...

Molly is clever at figuring out connections and finding clues, and so far she's lived to tell.

[Chris Lindert · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable, light read. Plot line of this one was a little thin. Nevertheless, the familiar characters, setting and relationships still work to engage the reader in the outcomes for them all, in this next instalment of Molly Sutton mysteries.

[Marilynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this fun series and feel like I know all the characters. I just started Book #6. Molly is delightful and her interactions with the friends she has met since moving to Castilian France seems to always end up in crime solving.

[Polly Steeber · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love her books. They’re pretty light reading, but very rich in character development. Her books transport me to where they take place and her Molly Sutton main character is so relatable. I read six in this series and, looking back, it felt like a warm hug🩷

[Charlotte Larocca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming, entertaining.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most well written Molly Sutton book yet! What a pleasure to read-I can't wait to get my hands on the next one!

[Janice Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed the suspense and did not even know the murderer till the end of the book Thanks!!

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Baron shot in his study. Jewel missing. Baroness asks Molly to find. Fun read, but I wanted more of the town's characters and especially Ben

[Jeannie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Plots seem to be becoming more engaging and the characters are fun - so good entertainment

[Anwnh5 · Rating 3 out of 5]

every book discloses more about the individuals living in the town where Molly has her B&B. This one disclosed more.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 5 is another light, fun mystery in the quaint French village of
Castillac.

[Robin Reichenbach · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, easy read. Nice characters and France!

[Marjorie Cavalier · Rating 4 out of 5]

I missed Ben Dufort's presence in this one.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another cozy book. Love the French village and food. Wish Nell would increase the romance component in these stories. On to number 6

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Her writing is getting better and the plot lines tighter but still not overly intriguing. It’s a fun series, though, for times when your brain can’t process complex narrative.

[Cyndi Berve]

Typiquement Molly à Castillac. A good look at the upper rungs of French society!

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoying the series! Just enough "French" to make it fun. Love the cast of characters!

[Babs · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good one as always, especially as an audiobook.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this series!!!

[Don Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Had me fooled until the last!

Another in this Molly Sutton series that was great reading! I thoroughly enjoyed every detail. On the edge of your chair read.

[Marcella · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book added a new prospective on Molly's life in Castillac -- introducing new characters, new details of existing characters, and new life-changing opportunities for some characters. Although this certainly is not one of my favorite of the series, it did maintain my interest (enough to finish it within three days) and prompted me to continue reading the series. If you have any interest in France, French pastry, or strong independent woman who go on no matter throws their way -- this is a series for you.

[Mary Byrnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great story

This was another good story in this cozy mystery series. I still love the setting and enjoyed the look inside the aristocracy. The Manor sounds like someplace I would love to visit.
I missed one of the main characters who was not written into this. Hopefully he's back in the next one.

[Chris Conley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Molly is back! Every book reveals some new facts about the villagers in Castellac while Molly solves the mystery. This was a pretty chilling mystery because it seemed so random. Molly got there in the end, though. She is a treat!