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Prudence Bulstrode #1
The Last Supper: The irresistible debut novel where cosy crime and cookery collide!
'A great yarn - Shrager knows her food and she's cooked up a storm. . . Rosie can write and Prudence Bulstrode is here to stay' Miriam Margolyes
'Think bolshy Mrs Beeton meets Miss Marple, our rambunctious heroine, Prudence, hilariously stomps her way through a riotous and unpredictable plot. Witty, warm and so enjoyable' Jo Brand
'A Golden Age classic for the modern era - Rosemary Shrager has come up with a recipe to die for' Anton Du Beke
'True to form, this recipe is a real killer!' Alan Titchmarsh
'Rosemary is one of the most positive and resilient people I know. I love her spirit as I love her cooking. Now, I have to admire her writing too' Pierre Koffman
The irresistible debut novel from celebrity TV chef Rosemary Shrager where cosy crime and cookery collide!
When an old television rival, Deirdre Shaw, is found dead at the Cotswolds manor house where she was catering for a prestigious shooting weekend, Prudence is asked to step into the breach. Prudence is only too happy to take up the position and soon she is working in the kitchens of Farleigh Manor.
But Farleigh Manor is the home to secrets, both old and new. The site of a famous unsolved murder from the nineteenth century, Farleigh Manor has never quite shaken off its sensationalist past. It's about to get a sensational present too. Because, the more she scratches beneath the surface of this manor and its guests, the more Prudence becomes certain that Deirdre Shaw's death was no accident. She's staring in the face of a very modern murder. . .
Praise for The Last Supper
'A great yarn - Shrager knows her food and she's cooked up a storm. Murder is the main course but the side dishes fascinate. A fascinating conclusion - Rosie can write and Prudence Bulstrode is here to stay. I look forward to more in this series.' Miriam Margolyes
'I've long admired Rosemary as a woman of many talents. I just hadn't realized that writing is one of them. The Last Supper has pace and style and a very interesting cast of characters' Richard Vines
'Rosemary Shrager has created a welcome addition to the ranks of female amateur sleuths. The Last Supper is a witty, light-hearted mystery, in which the author has served up a tasty treat' Simon Brett
'The Last Supper is a charming, hugely entertaining book. Retired chef Prudence Bulstrode is cranky, stubborn and insightful; an utterly brilliant creation. I can't wait to see what she gets up to next' M W Craven
'Discover how a Michelin-starred Miss Marple displays the skills of a bloodhound as she sniffs out the scent of a killer in this thriller that rises to a conclusion like a perfect souffle.' Nick Ferrari
'A light-hearted, fun mystery, combining cookery and crime - what's not to love?' Woman's Weekly
'Shrager, herself a kitchen whizz on TV, has a natural talent and deft touch for exactly this kind of gentle fun' The Sun
'Think bolshy Mrs Beeton meets Miss Marple, our rambunctious heroine, Prudence, hilariously stomps her way through a riotous and unpredictable plot. Witty, warm and so enjoyable' Jo Brand
'A Golden Age classic for the modern era - Rosemary Shrager has come up with a recipe to die for' Anton Du Beke
'True to form, this recipe is a real killer!' Alan Titchmarsh
'Rosemary is one of the most positive and resilient people I know. I love her spirit as I love her cooking. Now, I have to admire her writing too' Pierre Koffman
The irresistible debut novel from celebrity TV chef Rosemary Shrager where cosy crime and cookery collide!
When an old television rival, Deirdre Shaw, is found dead at the Cotswolds manor house where she was catering for a prestigious shooting weekend, Prudence is asked to step into the breach. Prudence is only too happy to take up the position and soon she is working in the kitchens of Farleigh Manor.
But Farleigh Manor is the home to secrets, both old and new. The site of a famous unsolved murder from the nineteenth century, Farleigh Manor has never quite shaken off its sensationalist past. It's about to get a sensational present too. Because, the more she scratches beneath the surface of this manor and its guests, the more Prudence becomes certain that Deirdre Shaw's death was no accident. She's staring in the face of a very modern murder. . .
Praise for The Last Supper
'A great yarn - Shrager knows her food and she's cooked up a storm. Murder is the main course but the side dishes fascinate. A fascinating conclusion - Rosie can write and Prudence Bulstrode is here to stay. I look forward to more in this series.' Miriam Margolyes
'I've long admired Rosemary as a woman of many talents. I just hadn't realized that writing is one of them. The Last Supper has pace and style and a very interesting cast of characters' Richard Vines
'Rosemary Shrager has created a welcome addition to the ranks of female amateur sleuths. The Last Supper is a witty, light-hearted mystery, in which the author has served up a tasty treat' Simon Brett
'The Last Supper is a charming, hugely entertaining book. Retired chef Prudence Bulstrode is cranky, stubborn and insightful; an utterly brilliant creation. I can't wait to see what she gets up to next' M W Craven
'Discover how a Michelin-starred Miss Marple displays the skills of a bloodhound as she sniffs out the scent of a killer in this thriller that rises to a conclusion like a perfect souffle.' Nick Ferrari
'A light-hearted, fun mystery, combining cookery and crime - what's not to love?' Woman's Weekly
'Shrager, herself a kitchen whizz on TV, has a natural talent and deft touch for exactly this kind of gentle fun' The Sun
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Published February 24, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 123 reviews
February 24, 2022
The last supper by Rosemary Shrager.
Prudence Bulstrode book 1.
When an old television rival, Deirdre Shaw, is found dead at the Cotswolds manor house where she was catering for a prestigious shooting weekend, Prudence is asked to step into the breach. Prudence is only too happy to take up the position and soon she is working in the kitchens of Farleigh Manor.But Farleigh Manor is the home to secrets, both old and new. The site of a famous unsolved murder from the nineteenth century, Farleigh Manor has never quite shaken off its sensationalist past. It's about to get a sensational present too. Because, the more she scratches beneath the surface of this manor and its guests, the more Prudence becomes certain that Deirdre Shaw's death was no accident. She's staring in the face of a very modern murder. . .
A brilliant read. Great story and characters. This is a great first book. 5*.
Prudence Bulstrode book 1.
When an old television rival, Deirdre Shaw, is found dead at the Cotswolds manor house where she was catering for a prestigious shooting weekend, Prudence is asked to step into the breach. Prudence is only too happy to take up the position and soon she is working in the kitchens of Farleigh Manor.But Farleigh Manor is the home to secrets, both old and new. The site of a famous unsolved murder from the nineteenth century, Farleigh Manor has never quite shaken off its sensationalist past. It's about to get a sensational present too. Because, the more she scratches beneath the surface of this manor and its guests, the more Prudence becomes certain that Deirdre Shaw's death was no accident. She's staring in the face of a very modern murder. . .
A brilliant read. Great story and characters. This is a great first book. 5*.
August 26, 2022
3.5 stars
The Last Supper is undeniably Rosemary. Her slightly admonishing tone was apparent throughout and the character of Prudence was a delightful nod to Prue Leith with her brightly coloured glasses and plastic jewellery.
This is as old school and country as you can get in a cosy crime. With a Harvest Fayre vegetable growing competition and shoots at posh estates with old duffers showing pride in their killing abilities. So when Prudence’s rival Deidre, who was hired to put on a feast, is found dead in the rhubarb patch it is up to her and her granddaughter Suki to take her place in the kitchen. With the venue having a history of murder and guests becoming ill is there more to Deirdre’s death than ‘natural causes’.
Prudence and her aversion to Suki’s use of modern technology did start to grate after a while and I was wishing she would shut her mouth and open her ears to what Suki was trying to tell her. Suki may have been a bit of a liability at the start with her behaviour but her and her friend Numbers were putting the work in behind the scenes to solve not one but two possible murders.
The guests were just as I expected and an unlikeable bunch except for Richard, after all you don’t see many vegetarians at a shooting weekend where they plan to eat their spoils. I must also make a special mention of the lilac spandex and fur coat wearing Constable Littleton who never failed to amuse.
While this book wasn’t à la carte with dried ice and other gastronomic theatrics it was more of a comforting Sunday roast with all the trimmings that leaves you with a nice full belly and a contented smile. I’m looking forward to reading the next one.
The Last Supper is undeniably Rosemary. Her slightly admonishing tone was apparent throughout and the character of Prudence was a delightful nod to Prue Leith with her brightly coloured glasses and plastic jewellery.
This is as old school and country as you can get in a cosy crime. With a Harvest Fayre vegetable growing competition and shoots at posh estates with old duffers showing pride in their killing abilities. So when Prudence’s rival Deidre, who was hired to put on a feast, is found dead in the rhubarb patch it is up to her and her granddaughter Suki to take her place in the kitchen. With the venue having a history of murder and guests becoming ill is there more to Deirdre’s death than ‘natural causes’.
Prudence and her aversion to Suki’s use of modern technology did start to grate after a while and I was wishing she would shut her mouth and open her ears to what Suki was trying to tell her. Suki may have been a bit of a liability at the start with her behaviour but her and her friend Numbers were putting the work in behind the scenes to solve not one but two possible murders.
The guests were just as I expected and an unlikeable bunch except for Richard, after all you don’t see many vegetarians at a shooting weekend where they plan to eat their spoils. I must also make a special mention of the lilac spandex and fur coat wearing Constable Littleton who never failed to amuse.
While this book wasn’t à la carte with dried ice and other gastronomic theatrics it was more of a comforting Sunday roast with all the trimmings that leaves you with a nice full belly and a contented smile. I’m looking forward to reading the next one.
August 24, 2022
The Last Supper fits in perfectly with the cosy murder mystery genre. It has all the right ingredients for a straightforward, non-taxing, gentle read which categorically won't horrify or upset the reader, (apart from the death of an animal or two), and absolutely won't deprive you of sleep; it isn't a stay up all night to find out whodunit kind of book.
Set at Farleigh Manor, hosting a party of wealthy friends, Prudence Bulstrode, TV chef, and her errant granddaughter Suki are hastily employed to serve sumptuous food to the guests overall shooting weekend when first choice chef Dierdre Shaw is unable to carry on cooking...
There is nothing truly objectionable about the characters but neither is there anything memorable about them, or indeed the plot. The story is written in a very straightforward style, and for my reading tastes it was way too simplistic to engage me.
Slow, lacking content and repetitive, The Last Supper was not for me.
Set at Farleigh Manor, hosting a party of wealthy friends, Prudence Bulstrode, TV chef, and her errant granddaughter Suki are hastily employed to serve sumptuous food to the guests overall shooting weekend when first choice chef Dierdre Shaw is unable to carry on cooking...
There is nothing truly objectionable about the characters but neither is there anything memorable about them, or indeed the plot. The story is written in a very straightforward style, and for my reading tastes it was way too simplistic to engage me.
Slow, lacking content and repetitive, The Last Supper was not for me.
February 24, 2022
Sixty-five-year-old Prudence Bulstrode is a retired chef and cookery show tv presenter who used to host Prudence's Home Bakes as well as Prudence's Voyages. Now she has a campervan and her own travelling kitchen. She had hoped to have an idyllic retirement after moving to the village of Chelwood Gyll with hubby, Nicholas but he sadly passed away. She has her eldest granddaughter Suki, aged 17, though, who stays in the campervan sometimes for a break from her parents, Prudence's daughter, Rose and Rose's husband, Teddy.
When Deirdre Shaw is found dead in a rhubarb patch at the Cotswolds manor house, Farleigh Manor, near Nutwood St Knowle where she was catering for a prestigious shooting weekend, Prudence gets involved in the investigation after being offered the chance to take Deirdre's place as the caterer.
I enjoyed the personality traits of no-nonsense Prudence though she could be snippy and waspish. Suki played a good part, too as did her friend, known as "Numbers". The mystery was lively and funny with surprises and I will be watching out for book two.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Little, Brown Book Group UK, Constable via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
When Deirdre Shaw is found dead in a rhubarb patch at the Cotswolds manor house, Farleigh Manor, near Nutwood St Knowle where she was catering for a prestigious shooting weekend, Prudence gets involved in the investigation after being offered the chance to take Deirdre's place as the caterer.
I enjoyed the personality traits of no-nonsense Prudence though she could be snippy and waspish. Suki played a good part, too as did her friend, known as "Numbers". The mystery was lively and funny with surprises and I will be watching out for book two.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Little, Brown Book Group UK, Constable via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
March 16, 2022
When I say that I want a cosy British crime novel, then this is exactly the sort of thing I am looking for. The Last Supper is celebrity chef, Rosemary Shrager's, debut foray into fiction and what fun it was. After the unfortunate death of one celebrity chef, Prudence Bulstrode and her grandaughter, Suki, step in to cater a weekend shooting party. But is one death just the beginning? Prudence is, without a doubt, the tour de force of this book. She's such a strong character and could be the basis for a great little series of books. Maybe it was the characterisation, or maybe it was the voice that the audiobook narrator gave her, but she did feel a little like the Rosemary Shrager I am familiar with from the TV. With this in mind, I couldn't help but put other well-known chefs in some of the other roles, which was both a blessing and a curse because I ended up with the distance sense that Mary Berry had been killed off. The mystery kept me guessing, and the descriptions of food kept me hungry. I had a lot of fun listening to the audiobook. It promised cosy murders, cookery, and a good time, and it delivered exactly that.
August 24, 2022
The Last Supper by Rosemary Shrager is an easy to read murder mystery and has plenty of meals cooking to make all meat lovers feel hungry.
I enjoyed reading this light hearted read and would enjoy reading more by the author in similar vein.
Recommended
I enjoyed reading this light hearted read and would enjoy reading more by the author in similar vein.
Recommended
January 26, 2022
So, this book. Yes and no. Yes - it was light - hearted, not too demanding and engaging. The characters were sometimes frustrating, sometimes lovely, for a long time I wasn't sure who is who in the Farleigh Manor party to be honest, but it's not a thing that bothered me too much.
No - because, well, it was very simple. I mean, I didn't gues who did it. I was thinking hard together with Prudence and I think that actually I've accused every single character in this book, but in the end I didn't guess, as there was no right motivation to this whole murder thing. A lot of things were falling perfectly into places, people appearing at the right moments, great ideas coming out of the blue. The way it was written and explained, well, I wouldn't guess it in a million year. The other thing is, would I want to guess it? Every single characters has been taken to the table and thoroughly analyzed, only so that we would suspect all of them.
This is the first in the Prudence Bulstrode series and, all my issues aside, I am already looking forward to reading the next book in the series, because "The Last Supper" was an adorable, relaxing cosy - crime. I wouldn't call it irresistible, but there was something in this book, in the writing style, that made me go back to it to keep reading. It was easy, not too complicated, not too finessed, everything was too convenient, but altogether I enjoyed it, and what more do you want, right?
No - because, well, it was very simple. I mean, I didn't gues who did it. I was thinking hard together with Prudence and I think that actually I've accused every single character in this book, but in the end I didn't guess, as there was no right motivation to this whole murder thing. A lot of things were falling perfectly into places, people appearing at the right moments, great ideas coming out of the blue. The way it was written and explained, well, I wouldn't guess it in a million year. The other thing is, would I want to guess it? Every single characters has been taken to the table and thoroughly analyzed, only so that we would suspect all of them.
This is the first in the Prudence Bulstrode series and, all my issues aside, I am already looking forward to reading the next book in the series, because "The Last Supper" was an adorable, relaxing cosy - crime. I wouldn't call it irresistible, but there was something in this book, in the writing style, that made me go back to it to keep reading. It was easy, not too complicated, not too finessed, everything was too convenient, but altogether I enjoyed it, and what more do you want, right?
August 24, 2022
Well this book was a little like a sorbet - much anticipated, but actually fades to nothing but a slightly pleasant aftertaste.
We never really got to the meaty main course as this 'Writing by Numbers' story progressed and the final course, the dessert, was all explanation to make the story work.
Light easy reading that doesn't tax the brain - recipes added at the end would have been a bonus course.
Thanks to Rosemary and Pigeonhole
We never really got to the meaty main course as this 'Writing by Numbers' story progressed and the final course, the dessert, was all explanation to make the story work.
Light easy reading that doesn't tax the brain - recipes added at the end would have been a bonus course.
Thanks to Rosemary and Pigeonhole
October 26, 2022
Got going in the end and a good cosy crime. Didn’t find it particularly funny and needed a damn good edit in the early chapters but ended well and I will read the next one “The Proof is in the Pudding” when released.
June 1, 2024
Descriptions of food: 8/10. Plot: 2/10.
Rating bumped up purely because there’s a gay couple and we love to see it.
Rating bumped up purely because there’s a gay couple and we love to see it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 17, 2024
The premise was quite good, a grandmother grand daughter duo embroiled in a cost murder mystery. However it was so boring that I could somehow finish taking a long time to read
April 12, 2024
The perfect read for an evening in the garden sunshine
September 20, 2024
Nice enough way to spend a couple of sunny afternoons in the garden but nothing we haven’t seen before I’m afraid
June 14, 2022
First in a new series. A light engaging cozy mystery to be read curled up on a Sunday afternoon.
An old fashioned country house weekend with a personal cook to produce fantastic meals. When Prudence’s rival is found dead at a shooting weekend Prudence takes up the mantle. She’s suspicious of the death somethings not right and when poisoning happens on the first night there’s a mystery to solve. A book for whoever loves food and mystery combined. Entertaining with a peek at the next in the series.
I was given an arc of this book by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
An old fashioned country house weekend with a personal cook to produce fantastic meals. When Prudence’s rival is found dead at a shooting weekend Prudence takes up the mantle. She’s suspicious of the death somethings not right and when poisoning happens on the first night there’s a mystery to solve. A book for whoever loves food and mystery combined. Entertaining with a peek at the next in the series.
I was given an arc of this book by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
August 29, 2022
Books by celebrity authors can be something of a hit and miss affair leaving you either pleasantly surprised or wildly disappointed. It would appear everybody is jumping on this particular bandwagon from game show hosts, ballroom dancers and radio presenters to reverends and chefs. This cozy crime is Rosemary Shrager’s fictional debut featuring amateur sleuthing duo Prudence Bulstrode, acclaimed tv chef and her granddaughter Suki. Their catering services are required at Farleigh Manor when Deidre Shaw, Prudence’s former arch rival is mysteriously found dead. As a fan of this popular genre, what would I make of Rosemary’s attempts to combine her knowledge of all things culinary with a (hopefully) well hatched crime to challenge even the very best armchair detectives amongst us?? Well, as they say the proof is in the pudding or in this particular instance maybe it’s in another item taking pride of place on the menu as old acquaintances gather for a shooting weekend. Present day murder becomes entangled with a tragedy from the past as Prudence and Suki endeavour to dish up a sumptuous feast, solve the crime and serve justice for dessert.
Oh dear! Oh dear! Oh dear! I know I should try and say something positive about Prudence and Suki’s sleuthing shenanigans before I launch into the negatives but I’m afraid I can’t. Ok I admit initially I thought this would be a good pairing but that thought rapidly dissipated with each turn of the page. Unfortunately this doesn’t work on any level at all! My main impression of the writing style is that Rosemary is trying so hard to be up to date that it has the complete opposite effect and serves only to highlight her advancing years. It takes an absolute age for anything to happen, creeping along at a snail’s pace which means boredom sets in and your brain switches off. Perhaps I’ve lost my sense of humour but I struggled to find any evidence of this ingredient in the storyline. Lacking in any real drama and without even a teaspoon of tension I’m afraid I found the weekend events at Farleigh Manor faintly bonkers! Prudence Bulstrode, as a character is a laughing stock in my opinion and a target for ridicule. Why on earth would anyone still care so passionately about a menu when lives are at steak??? (Pun very much intended!!) All in all The Last Supper is a recipe for disaster. The table is laid for further instalments but I for one won’t be queuing up for second helpings.
Oh dear! Oh dear! Oh dear! I know I should try and say something positive about Prudence and Suki’s sleuthing shenanigans before I launch into the negatives but I’m afraid I can’t. Ok I admit initially I thought this would be a good pairing but that thought rapidly dissipated with each turn of the page. Unfortunately this doesn’t work on any level at all! My main impression of the writing style is that Rosemary is trying so hard to be up to date that it has the complete opposite effect and serves only to highlight her advancing years. It takes an absolute age for anything to happen, creeping along at a snail’s pace which means boredom sets in and your brain switches off. Perhaps I’ve lost my sense of humour but I struggled to find any evidence of this ingredient in the storyline. Lacking in any real drama and without even a teaspoon of tension I’m afraid I found the weekend events at Farleigh Manor faintly bonkers! Prudence Bulstrode, as a character is a laughing stock in my opinion and a target for ridicule. Why on earth would anyone still care so passionately about a menu when lives are at steak??? (Pun very much intended!!) All in all The Last Supper is a recipe for disaster. The table is laid for further instalments but I for one won’t be queuing up for second helpings.
February 10, 2022
A truly wonderful and delicious debut novel that I thoroughly enjoyed!
Rosemary Shrager has dished up yet another success but this time she has used words, as ingredients, and blended them into a super feast. I don't often read novels at the cosier end of the spectrum but I would wholeheartedly recommend this one. Her main character, Prudence Bulstrode, will be a familiar face if you've ever watched Rosemary, the Two Fat Ladies, or other famous female cooks, as she is a great amalgamation of these characters. Celebrated chef and star of TV shows, Prudence is a force to be reckoned with!
The supporting characters, especially Suki (Prudence's granddaughter), work well together and help to enhance the story when Prudence is brought to Farleigh Manor in light of an old rival's untimely death. Was it natural causes that took Deirdre Shaw's life? Or was murder on the menu? Called in to rescue the shooting party's reunion weekend, and cook up a feast, all is not as it would appear at Farleigh Manor.
A thoroughly enjoyable and clever story, which would have scored 5 stars had there not been so many similar names among the shooting party guests to confuddle me at times.
Rosemary Shrager has dished up yet another success but this time she has used words, as ingredients, and blended them into a super feast. I don't often read novels at the cosier end of the spectrum but I would wholeheartedly recommend this one. Her main character, Prudence Bulstrode, will be a familiar face if you've ever watched Rosemary, the Two Fat Ladies, or other famous female cooks, as she is a great amalgamation of these characters. Celebrated chef and star of TV shows, Prudence is a force to be reckoned with!
The supporting characters, especially Suki (Prudence's granddaughter), work well together and help to enhance the story when Prudence is brought to Farleigh Manor in light of an old rival's untimely death. Was it natural causes that took Deirdre Shaw's life? Or was murder on the menu? Called in to rescue the shooting party's reunion weekend, and cook up a feast, all is not as it would appear at Farleigh Manor.
A thoroughly enjoyable and clever story, which would have scored 5 stars had there not been so many similar names among the shooting party guests to confuddle me at times.
August 1, 2023
Book Review
Title: The Last Supper by Rosemary Shrager (Prudence Bulstrode Book 1)
Genre: Contemporary, Cosy, Mystery
Rating: 5 Stars
The opening to The Last Supper was immensely interesting and really brought the cosy vibes as we are introduced due Prudence Bulstrode, a famous TV chef who has left fame behind for a quiet life in the country. On the day of the annual fair her granddaughter, Suki crashes her camper van into the prize vegetables after one too many. Pru and Suki discuss her situation when she gets a phone call informing her of the death of her friend and on screen rival, Deirdre Shaw. Deirdre was hired to put on a banquet at Farleigh Manor and with her sudden death they have asked Pru to replace her and she accepts taking Suki as her assistant for the event.
As we approach the ¼ mark in the novel, Suki and Pru arrive at Farleigh Manor and begin to settle in for the long weekend ahead of them but something already seems off about the whole place. Suki learnt from her friend that there was another death in the manor over a century before that remains unsolved and this coupled with Peru’s sense that something is wrong with Deirdre being found in the rhubarb patch given it was the wrong time of year for the fruit is giving me ominous vibes. The first night they are there Pru is awoken several times by her granddaughter’s snoring but this allows her to hear someone in distress in the manor and she immediately heads to investigate.
As we cross the ¼ mark in the novel, Pru learns that every one of the guests have come down with suspected food poisoning but Pru knows it wasn’t her food that was responsible. Taking the bull by the horns she speaks to the police officer involved and learns that while Deirdre did have a heart attack she was alive when she fell into the rhubarb patch and suffocated breathing the dirt in. When an ambulance is called for one of the guests, Pru is beginning to suspect that there is something darker going on but goes along with the order to replace everything in the kitchens. However, she soon realises that rhubarb wasn’t in any of the dishes Deirdre planned to serve and being the old fashioned chef she was there would have been no reason for her to be getting rhubarb. This cements in Peru’s mind that there was foul play involved and someone is trying to derail the entire weekend and they are currently succeeding.
As we approach the halfway mark in the novel, Pru and Suki head out to do exactly what they have been asked and replace everything in the kitchen but when they return they learn there’s been a break in. Upon investigating while waiting for the police to arrive both Pru and Suki can sense something is off about the entire thing. When the police officer finally arrives, Pru begins to lay out her theory that the reason for the destruction was to cover up their intruders true intention since the back door wasn’t locked. She thinks that whoever broken in wanted something specific and took everything else to cover that up. The iPad which was filled with cookbooks and videos is missing and Deirdre also used it and that might be the link. Suki gives voice to Peru’s theory and everyone else thinks she is more than a little mad but I think she’s onto something but the motive is eluding me for wanting to kill Deirdre and make everyone else ill.
As we cross into the second half of the novel, slowly things are coming to light and poison is the key to it all in more than one way. It seems that Rupert Prendergast had a fling or ongoing fling with Deirdre until his wife but an end to it but she also made an enemy out of her ex-husband and former manager and Richard Prendergast as he hired Deirdre for a work event that didn’t go as planned and lead to him losing his job. Bringing Deirdre back was Richard’s idea and might have been a way to get back at his father who doesn’t treat him very well but he isn’t the only one with secrets. However, this train of thoughts is stopping harshly when Biscuit, the beloved English setter is poisoned and dies despite Suki and Flick trying desperately to save her. Everything that has happened is turning Suki’s stomach but this is supposed to be their last night in the manor and I have a feeling everything is going to come to light now with less than a 100 pages left.
As we approach the ¾ mark in the novel, things are slowly coming together. Suki and Pru begin looking into what kind of poison could have been used in Deirdre’s death and find several on the property but the only one that couldn’t have been identified by a trained chef is hemlock. They also soon realise that they have been looking at the situation all wrong since Deirdre was never the intended target of the poisoning. After finding the name tags of the pheasants partially burned in the forest, Pru realises who the true victim was. It seems that Deirdre died by accident when she took a pheasant that wasn’t meant for her and ate it and then everyone got sick when Pru used the remains of that pheasant on the first night. These two events are what prompted the killer to return to the kitchen and cover up the evidence they left behind. Now with mere hours until dinner is served I hope the killer is revealed in a true Agatha Christie style as that would perfectly fit the tone of the novel.
As we cross into the final section of the novel, seeing everything come together and the real identity of the murderer revealed was amazing. It was delightful how Shrager wove two murder mysteries into one and how they came together in the end surprised me. I won’t spoil the ending because the entire book is built around those final reveals but I didn’t see it coming at all and had someone else pinned for the murder in my mind. The reasoning behind the murder was realistic and logically sound which is something you don’t see too often these days and the characters were utterly delightful to follow and I can’t wait to sink my teeth into book two as soon as I can get my hands on a copy.
Title: The Last Supper by Rosemary Shrager (Prudence Bulstrode Book 1)
Genre: Contemporary, Cosy, Mystery
Rating: 5 Stars
The opening to The Last Supper was immensely interesting and really brought the cosy vibes as we are introduced due Prudence Bulstrode, a famous TV chef who has left fame behind for a quiet life in the country. On the day of the annual fair her granddaughter, Suki crashes her camper van into the prize vegetables after one too many. Pru and Suki discuss her situation when she gets a phone call informing her of the death of her friend and on screen rival, Deirdre Shaw. Deirdre was hired to put on a banquet at Farleigh Manor and with her sudden death they have asked Pru to replace her and she accepts taking Suki as her assistant for the event.
As we approach the ¼ mark in the novel, Suki and Pru arrive at Farleigh Manor and begin to settle in for the long weekend ahead of them but something already seems off about the whole place. Suki learnt from her friend that there was another death in the manor over a century before that remains unsolved and this coupled with Peru’s sense that something is wrong with Deirdre being found in the rhubarb patch given it was the wrong time of year for the fruit is giving me ominous vibes. The first night they are there Pru is awoken several times by her granddaughter’s snoring but this allows her to hear someone in distress in the manor and she immediately heads to investigate.
As we cross the ¼ mark in the novel, Pru learns that every one of the guests have come down with suspected food poisoning but Pru knows it wasn’t her food that was responsible. Taking the bull by the horns she speaks to the police officer involved and learns that while Deirdre did have a heart attack she was alive when she fell into the rhubarb patch and suffocated breathing the dirt in. When an ambulance is called for one of the guests, Pru is beginning to suspect that there is something darker going on but goes along with the order to replace everything in the kitchens. However, she soon realises that rhubarb wasn’t in any of the dishes Deirdre planned to serve and being the old fashioned chef she was there would have been no reason for her to be getting rhubarb. This cements in Peru’s mind that there was foul play involved and someone is trying to derail the entire weekend and they are currently succeeding.
As we approach the halfway mark in the novel, Pru and Suki head out to do exactly what they have been asked and replace everything in the kitchen but when they return they learn there’s been a break in. Upon investigating while waiting for the police to arrive both Pru and Suki can sense something is off about the entire thing. When the police officer finally arrives, Pru begins to lay out her theory that the reason for the destruction was to cover up their intruders true intention since the back door wasn’t locked. She thinks that whoever broken in wanted something specific and took everything else to cover that up. The iPad which was filled with cookbooks and videos is missing and Deirdre also used it and that might be the link. Suki gives voice to Peru’s theory and everyone else thinks she is more than a little mad but I think she’s onto something but the motive is eluding me for wanting to kill Deirdre and make everyone else ill.
As we cross into the second half of the novel, slowly things are coming to light and poison is the key to it all in more than one way. It seems that Rupert Prendergast had a fling or ongoing fling with Deirdre until his wife but an end to it but she also made an enemy out of her ex-husband and former manager and Richard Prendergast as he hired Deirdre for a work event that didn’t go as planned and lead to him losing his job. Bringing Deirdre back was Richard’s idea and might have been a way to get back at his father who doesn’t treat him very well but he isn’t the only one with secrets. However, this train of thoughts is stopping harshly when Biscuit, the beloved English setter is poisoned and dies despite Suki and Flick trying desperately to save her. Everything that has happened is turning Suki’s stomach but this is supposed to be their last night in the manor and I have a feeling everything is going to come to light now with less than a 100 pages left.
As we approach the ¾ mark in the novel, things are slowly coming together. Suki and Pru begin looking into what kind of poison could have been used in Deirdre’s death and find several on the property but the only one that couldn’t have been identified by a trained chef is hemlock. They also soon realise that they have been looking at the situation all wrong since Deirdre was never the intended target of the poisoning. After finding the name tags of the pheasants partially burned in the forest, Pru realises who the true victim was. It seems that Deirdre died by accident when she took a pheasant that wasn’t meant for her and ate it and then everyone got sick when Pru used the remains of that pheasant on the first night. These two events are what prompted the killer to return to the kitchen and cover up the evidence they left behind. Now with mere hours until dinner is served I hope the killer is revealed in a true Agatha Christie style as that would perfectly fit the tone of the novel.
As we cross into the final section of the novel, seeing everything come together and the real identity of the murderer revealed was amazing. It was delightful how Shrager wove two murder mysteries into one and how they came together in the end surprised me. I won’t spoil the ending because the entire book is built around those final reveals but I didn’t see it coming at all and had someone else pinned for the murder in my mind. The reasoning behind the murder was realistic and logically sound which is something you don’t see too often these days and the characters were utterly delightful to follow and I can’t wait to sink my teeth into book two as soon as I can get my hands on a copy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 24, 2022
Characters are not likeable so spoil the story. Boring plot line with cringworthy cooking mentions.
March 5, 2023
I am really starting to embrace cosy crime again and The Last Supper by Rosemary Shrager is an engaging addition to the genre. Prudence Bulstrode is attending a local fete when she gets a call asking her to step in to cater at a shooting weekend after the previous chef (and old rival) Deidre Shaw died from an apparent heart attack. Prudence is more than happy to take on the job and she takes her granddaughter Suki with her. When she gets to Farleigh Manor there is something that niggles at her and when all the guests go down with food poisoning it is clear that not everyone is being honest and there is someone who clearly wants to do harm, the question is to who and how and who is behind it all.
I liked Prudence, and if you have ever seen any of Rosemary Shrager’s programmes then you will most definitely see her personality in Prudence and if I am honest I quite often heard her voice every time the character spoke. She had a no-nonsense approach to everything except when it came to her granddaughter who she clearly loved and at times quite possibly overindulged. Suki is your typical teenager who doesn’t want to take life seriously but despite her initial complaints she seems to quite enjoy spending time with her gran and loves digging into the mystery of the past of Farleigh Manor and the events of the past certainly made things both more interesting and more complicated.
I will admit that there were one or two of the characters who seemed to have very few redeeming features and I would have been quite happy for them to be the intended victim. Along with Prudence my theories on who and why changed quite a lot over the course of the book and I will admit I did not expect what eventually was revealed but it is always good to have that air of mystery until the end. There were definitely some lighter moments usually provided by Suki and the local police officer who travelled everywhere by bike, (the thought of someone being covered with pumpkin entrails did have me sniggering) but this just added to the feel of a good old fashioned style cosy crime and I am looking forward to the next outing for Prudence Bulstrode and I hope her granddaughter Suki is still along for the ride as this series may just become my go to when I need a quieter pace and a really enjoyable read
I liked Prudence, and if you have ever seen any of Rosemary Shrager’s programmes then you will most definitely see her personality in Prudence and if I am honest I quite often heard her voice every time the character spoke. She had a no-nonsense approach to everything except when it came to her granddaughter who she clearly loved and at times quite possibly overindulged. Suki is your typical teenager who doesn’t want to take life seriously but despite her initial complaints she seems to quite enjoy spending time with her gran and loves digging into the mystery of the past of Farleigh Manor and the events of the past certainly made things both more interesting and more complicated.
I will admit that there were one or two of the characters who seemed to have very few redeeming features and I would have been quite happy for them to be the intended victim. Along with Prudence my theories on who and why changed quite a lot over the course of the book and I will admit I did not expect what eventually was revealed but it is always good to have that air of mystery until the end. There were definitely some lighter moments usually provided by Suki and the local police officer who travelled everywhere by bike, (the thought of someone being covered with pumpkin entrails did have me sniggering) but this just added to the feel of a good old fashioned style cosy crime and I am looking forward to the next outing for Prudence Bulstrode and I hope her granddaughter Suki is still along for the ride as this series may just become my go to when I need a quieter pace and a really enjoyable read
August 26, 2022
It’s all a bit too cosy for me – I prefer my crime to be really dark and grisly – but I enjoyed it nonetheless. Probably more so because I was reading with my online book club and we had a laugh exchanging comments. Nothing really original here, but entertaining nonetheless.
First the negatives and then I’ll move on to the positives and there were a lot. As a vegetarian, I found the food they were serving at the manor really stomach-churning. Sorry, but that’s just me and I know many people who would love to chomp down on raw venison and hung pheasant, accompanied by heart-attack inducing sauces. But I’ll have the raspberry roulade for dessert please. And the recipe.
Then there is Prudence herself. I hate it when sixty-somethings are always made out to be IT dinosaurs. I’m slightly younger than Rosemary and older than Prudence and I can still give many of my colleagues a run for their money on the computers at work. How refreshing it would be for Prudence to say to Suki, ‘move over, let the ‘expert’ check it out on the iPad, mobile phone (why is it always an overpriced iPhone?). We all became experts when we found out many years ago that we could order shoes online.
Then there’s granddaughter Suki, giving the reader the impression that all teenagers do is get drunk and stay in bed till lunchtime….OK, maybe I’ll park that one for now.
And Numbers. Irritating name, irritating way of speaking – just irritating all round. In fact I probably preferred the guests and that’s really saying something.
So to the positives. it’s fun, it’s entertaining, it had some clever twists and some ghastly, well-written characters amongst the guests. It’s set in the beautiful Cotswolds, where I live (though a reference or two to a town I recognise is always fun). It’s a great choice for a book club or to read on the plane. It’s a quick read and not taxing on the brain. It’s just a bit formulaic. Would I read the next book in the series? Maybe. Would I watch it on TV? Definitely. Just get Prudence to do a crash course in computers at a local community centre first.
Many thanks to The Pigeonhole, the author, and my fellow Pigeons for making this such an enjoyable read.
First the negatives and then I’ll move on to the positives and there were a lot. As a vegetarian, I found the food they were serving at the manor really stomach-churning. Sorry, but that’s just me and I know many people who would love to chomp down on raw venison and hung pheasant, accompanied by heart-attack inducing sauces. But I’ll have the raspberry roulade for dessert please. And the recipe.
Then there is Prudence herself. I hate it when sixty-somethings are always made out to be IT dinosaurs. I’m slightly younger than Rosemary and older than Prudence and I can still give many of my colleagues a run for their money on the computers at work. How refreshing it would be for Prudence to say to Suki, ‘move over, let the ‘expert’ check it out on the iPad, mobile phone (why is it always an overpriced iPhone?). We all became experts when we found out many years ago that we could order shoes online.
Then there’s granddaughter Suki, giving the reader the impression that all teenagers do is get drunk and stay in bed till lunchtime….OK, maybe I’ll park that one for now.
And Numbers. Irritating name, irritating way of speaking – just irritating all round. In fact I probably preferred the guests and that’s really saying something.
So to the positives. it’s fun, it’s entertaining, it had some clever twists and some ghastly, well-written characters amongst the guests. It’s set in the beautiful Cotswolds, where I live (though a reference or two to a town I recognise is always fun). It’s a great choice for a book club or to read on the plane. It’s a quick read and not taxing on the brain. It’s just a bit formulaic. Would I read the next book in the series? Maybe. Would I watch it on TV? Definitely. Just get Prudence to do a crash course in computers at a local community centre first.
Many thanks to The Pigeonhole, the author, and my fellow Pigeons for making this such an enjoyable read.
January 19, 2022
The last supper by Rosemary Shrager
‘Serve up supper’ said Prudence
‘Yes, Grandma. And serve up some justice as well’
Murder and food.. a classic cosy mystery combination..
I love a really good cosy murder mystery book and this is a really good one- it’s a little treat..
Prudence is the Prue Leith I suppose to Deirdre’s Mary Berry, Deirdre got the good telly shows and Prudence got the ones that she did not want but Prudence doesn’t seem to mind as she has made a good life for herself while Deirdre is not very well liked.
When word reaches Prudence that Deirdre has died in the middle of a private chef job and she is wanted to finish the job Prudence jumps at the chance as she smells something fishy in the manner of Deirdre death.. bringing her grand daughter Suki along for the ride to investigate..
This is the first in a new series of Prudence Bulstrode mysteries and I throughly enjoyed it and I cannot wait to read more adventures from this author.
It’s a really enjoyable book, simply written and the ending and unveiling were both a shock and confidently handled.. all ends wrapped up and now I need the next one.
I liked Prudence she is a no nonsense kind of older lady, who is recently widowed and at a lose end, she hates new technology but has a good heart and loves her granddaughter Suki and wants the best for her.. I loved Suki and Prudences relationship.. they are two totally opposite sides of the same coin.. love love love!!
I can’t wait to read the next book in the series which the author has given a small peak at in the end of the book.. I will be adding this author to my cosy mystery list to look out for..
#thelastsupper #netgalley #cosy #mystery #contempary #England
‘Serve up supper’ said Prudence
‘Yes, Grandma. And serve up some justice as well’
Murder and food.. a classic cosy mystery combination..
I love a really good cosy murder mystery book and this is a really good one- it’s a little treat..
Prudence is the Prue Leith I suppose to Deirdre’s Mary Berry, Deirdre got the good telly shows and Prudence got the ones that she did not want but Prudence doesn’t seem to mind as she has made a good life for herself while Deirdre is not very well liked.
When word reaches Prudence that Deirdre has died in the middle of a private chef job and she is wanted to finish the job Prudence jumps at the chance as she smells something fishy in the manner of Deirdre death.. bringing her grand daughter Suki along for the ride to investigate..
This is the first in a new series of Prudence Bulstrode mysteries and I throughly enjoyed it and I cannot wait to read more adventures from this author.
It’s a really enjoyable book, simply written and the ending and unveiling were both a shock and confidently handled.. all ends wrapped up and now I need the next one.
I liked Prudence she is a no nonsense kind of older lady, who is recently widowed and at a lose end, she hates new technology but has a good heart and loves her granddaughter Suki and wants the best for her.. I loved Suki and Prudences relationship.. they are two totally opposite sides of the same coin.. love love love!!
I can’t wait to read the next book in the series which the author has given a small peak at in the end of the book.. I will be adding this author to my cosy mystery list to look out for..
#thelastsupper #netgalley #cosy #mystery #contempary #England
September 2, 2025
Prudence Bulstrode is a retired TV chef. But when one of her former rivals is found dead in the garden of a house where she was catering a shooting weekend, Prudence is called in to replace her. Farleigh Manor is notorious for an unsolved murder from a century ago, but when Prudence arrives she is soon convinced that Deirdre’s death wasn’t a tragic accident but murder. And while her granddaughter, who she brought along to keep her out of getting into (even more) trouble starts investigating the old murder, Prudence sets out to solve the new one.
Rosemary Shrager is a chef who has been a semi regular on British TV for about 20 years now and before that she ran her own catering company, so the setting for this falls very much into her area of expertise and it shows. I personally have never been on a shooting weekend, but it very much felt like she had and all is those details really worked. I also found this quite humorous - with the tension and generation gap between Prudence and Suki, but couldn’t work whether that was deliberate or not. But does it matter if it was or wasn’t? The only disappointment to me was the eventual solution to the murder, which without giving spoilers about what precisely happened, I didn’t quite feel like the reader had all of the pieces for it to work as well as I wanted it to.
But it was a fun read that I finished in an afternoon and evening and I will definitely keep an eye out for the sequel (there are two now) to see if the humour was deliberate!
Rosemary Shrager is a chef who has been a semi regular on British TV for about 20 years now and before that she ran her own catering company, so the setting for this falls very much into her area of expertise and it shows. I personally have never been on a shooting weekend, but it very much felt like she had and all is those details really worked. I also found this quite humorous - with the tension and generation gap between Prudence and Suki, but couldn’t work whether that was deliberate or not. But does it matter if it was or wasn’t? The only disappointment to me was the eventual solution to the murder, which without giving spoilers about what precisely happened, I didn’t quite feel like the reader had all of the pieces for it to work as well as I wanted it to.
But it was a fun read that I finished in an afternoon and evening and I will definitely keep an eye out for the sequel (there are two now) to see if the humour was deliberate!
August 24, 2022
What a great debut novel by the very famous TV chef Rosemary Shrager.
This classic cosy mystery is infused with culinary goodness throughout which worked brilliantly.
I loved all the characters - really relatable and with obvious references to other well known chefs perhaps? Some little insights as to how the celebrity chef world really works maybe? In the main, this was most amusing and added to its uniqueness in this genre.
When Prudence is seconded to Farleigh Manor to cook for the weeks hunting party, after the original hired celebrity, Deirdre, collapses and dies, she takes on a bit more than just the cooking.
Suspecting that Deirdre's death was suspicious, she and her granddaughter Suki, set about uncovering the truth of what was really going on at the manor.
Inadvertantly also uncovering a previous, decades old, unsolved mystery in the process.
Rosemary interweaves the two cases with ease and keeps us guessing right to the end. Full of suspense and suspects as any good mystery should be. But also laced with lots of tasty recipes which will get your tummy rumbling
....
Prepare to be intrigued and salivating!
This classic cosy mystery is infused with culinary goodness throughout which worked brilliantly.
I loved all the characters - really relatable and with obvious references to other well known chefs perhaps? Some little insights as to how the celebrity chef world really works maybe? In the main, this was most amusing and added to its uniqueness in this genre.
When Prudence is seconded to Farleigh Manor to cook for the weeks hunting party, after the original hired celebrity, Deirdre, collapses and dies, she takes on a bit more than just the cooking.
Suspecting that Deirdre's death was suspicious, she and her granddaughter Suki, set about uncovering the truth of what was really going on at the manor.
Inadvertantly also uncovering a previous, decades old, unsolved mystery in the process.
Rosemary interweaves the two cases with ease and keeps us guessing right to the end. Full of suspense and suspects as any good mystery should be. But also laced with lots of tasty recipes which will get your tummy rumbling
....
Prepare to be intrigued and salivating!
August 25, 2022
This is the debut of TV chef Rosemary Shrager and it definitely has her personal stamp on it.
There are plenty of foodie references without it turning into a cookbook, (although some of the food is mouthwatering in description and if there was a reference section at the end linking to Ms Shrager's cookbooks i'd be very tempted), the murder element is definitely on the 'cosy' side and actually the descriptions of the shooting party's weekend activities are grizzlier than the actual murders themselves.
This is not a book for the squeamish or non meat eaters as the foodie descriptions can be very descriptive and the telling of the blood sports is not for the faint of heart.
The book reads like an ITV 4 murder mystery and can be long winded, even although it is a shortish book and there are certainly paragraphs that feel like they are there to make up a word count.
All in all though the book is a nice, easy read and I would read the next book. The ending hinted at gran and grand daughter sleuthing/cooking adventure series.
I read this with the pigeonhole app and want to thank both them and the author for the chance to read this book.
There are plenty of foodie references without it turning into a cookbook, (although some of the food is mouthwatering in description and if there was a reference section at the end linking to Ms Shrager's cookbooks i'd be very tempted), the murder element is definitely on the 'cosy' side and actually the descriptions of the shooting party's weekend activities are grizzlier than the actual murders themselves.
This is not a book for the squeamish or non meat eaters as the foodie descriptions can be very descriptive and the telling of the blood sports is not for the faint of heart.
The book reads like an ITV 4 murder mystery and can be long winded, even although it is a shortish book and there are certainly paragraphs that feel like they are there to make up a word count.
All in all though the book is a nice, easy read and I would read the next book. The ending hinted at gran and grand daughter sleuthing/cooking adventure series.
I read this with the pigeonhole app and want to thank both them and the author for the chance to read this book.
February 18, 2023
A thin plot that could have been much better if the main character, Prudence, hadn't been so awfully written. In fact, the main character often felt like a Mary Sue character, making it difficult to read. The book was full of boring, old, and lazy stereotypes - such as teenagers being lazy, and technology being inferior to good old-fashioned books. For example, the granddaughter, Suki, was pretty much forced to join Prudence as her assistant for a weekend as a private chef; Suki clearly doesn't want to do this but is constantly being told off and reprimanded for not being 110% motivated and showing intuition. As far as I can tell, Suki has never worked in a professional kitchen yet is expected to understand the role of a kitchen assistant. It blames her being a teenager - which is just lazy writing and poor judgement on the part of the author.
The whole book felt like the author had an axe to grind about getting older and not fitting in with the times; that they resent not being considered a leading voice in the culinary world and that new-fangled ideas and concepts are just silly fads.
The whole book felt like the author had an axe to grind about getting older and not fitting in with the times; that they resent not being considered a leading voice in the culinary world and that new-fangled ideas and concepts are just silly fads.
February 15, 2022
This book certainly has novelty value. Like other readers, it amused me to see hybrids of Delia Smith, Prue Leith, Mary Berry, and perhaps Rosemary Shrager herself, popping up - or popping their clogs! With the current explosion of ambitious home cooks and interest in cookery programmes, there is definitely a market for a murder mystery with this setting and many will enjoy the descriptions of the menus in particular. More details, eg descriptions of food preparation, would make it even better.
Having said all this, it’s too ‘cosy’ and too formulaic for me. I tired of the novelty very quickly and couldn’t wait for it to be over by less than halfway through. I have no doubts it will be very popular though, as celebrity novels usually are.
With thanks to Little Brown Book Group UK and NetGalley for a review copy.
Note: can anyone explain why Shrager refers to ‘rutabaga’? In England, it’s called swede, in Scotland turnip. I thought it was only in the USA that it’s called rutabaga.
Having said all this, it’s too ‘cosy’ and too formulaic for me. I tired of the novelty very quickly and couldn’t wait for it to be over by less than halfway through. I have no doubts it will be very popular though, as celebrity novels usually are.
With thanks to Little Brown Book Group UK and NetGalley for a review copy.
Note: can anyone explain why Shrager refers to ‘rutabaga’? In England, it’s called swede, in Scotland turnip. I thought it was only in the USA that it’s called rutabaga.
August 30, 2022
When one of celebrity chef Prudence Bulstrode’s rivals is found dead in the rhubarb patch at a country mansion during a shooting party event, she finds herself jumping into her camper van along with granddaughter, Suki, to save the day. All is not as it seems at Farleigh Hall, however, as someone has murder on their mind. So will it be a case of too many cooks spoil the broth?
Agatha Raisin meets Mary Berry (but perhaps on acid!) in this cosy murder mystery. There are nods to other books like The Suspicions of Mr Whicher and Lady Chatterley’s Lover within the plot line. It’s a fun and entertaining read notwithstanding, but I did work out the villain of the piece early on. Prudence is one smart cookie amongst a minestrone of zany characters, so it doesn’t take her long with a little help from Suki and her iPhone to ice the cake and put the cherry on top! 🍰 And I’m sure this intrepid duo will be back in the midst of another stew of a mystery very soon. 😁
Agatha Raisin meets Mary Berry (but perhaps on acid!) in this cosy murder mystery. There are nods to other books like The Suspicions of Mr Whicher and Lady Chatterley’s Lover within the plot line. It’s a fun and entertaining read notwithstanding, but I did work out the villain of the piece early on. Prudence is one smart cookie amongst a minestrone of zany characters, so it doesn’t take her long with a little help from Suki and her iPhone to ice the cake and put the cherry on top! 🍰 And I’m sure this intrepid duo will be back in the midst of another stew of a mystery very soon. 😁
September 4, 2022
Thank you to the Pigeonhole for the opportunity to read this book. I enjoyed it - it was a short, easy to read, cosy-crime story. Set in a grand old house, now let out for hunting/shooting weekends, a top Celebrity Chef booked to cook for the party is found keeled over in the rhubarb patch. In steps second top celebrity chef to take over, but Prudence is suspicious about what she sees, hears and finds about the weekend. Cue Miss Marple-esque investigations.
This was, despite the murder, a warm book, with Prudence's relationship with her granddaughter at the centre of it, and I got the impression this would be the first in a series of books, where Prudence and Suki team up. They were likeable characters, unlike the guests staying in the house!
I didn't guess the outcome (which is not unusual for me!), so although this is a 3.5 star book for me, I've rounded it up to four. It's an enjoyable, easy, holiday read. It isn't a book that will linger on in your thoughts.
This was, despite the murder, a warm book, with Prudence's relationship with her granddaughter at the centre of it, and I got the impression this would be the first in a series of books, where Prudence and Suki team up. They were likeable characters, unlike the guests staying in the house!
I didn't guess the outcome (which is not unusual for me!), so although this is a 3.5 star book for me, I've rounded it up to four. It's an enjoyable, easy, holiday read. It isn't a book that will linger on in your thoughts.
April 22, 2023
Picked this up at start of the year, as always enjoyed Rosemary the chef and remember the tv shows of her and thought let give her fiction book a go, a cosy crime book.
Prudence being the main character, that I’m guessing is based a lot on herself with being a celebrity chef and all that, being asked short notice to take over from an old rival/friend who was found dead, but all isn’t what it seems and soon alot of other random/horrible accounts take place when prudence and her grand-daughter Suki arrive.
They work together in preparing meals, while uncovering the truth behind a murder which happen centuries ago and what seems to be murder again, as well as alot of hidden secrets.
It was a nice cosy crime book, but alot of it felt forced and rambling on when it wasn’t needed and to be honest i guessed from the start what had happened and who it was. Still a good quick read for myself.
Prudence being the main character, that I’m guessing is based a lot on herself with being a celebrity chef and all that, being asked short notice to take over from an old rival/friend who was found dead, but all isn’t what it seems and soon alot of other random/horrible accounts take place when prudence and her grand-daughter Suki arrive.
They work together in preparing meals, while uncovering the truth behind a murder which happen centuries ago and what seems to be murder again, as well as alot of hidden secrets.
It was a nice cosy crime book, but alot of it felt forced and rambling on when it wasn’t needed and to be honest i guessed from the start what had happened and who it was. Still a good quick read for myself.
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