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Adam and Eve Mystery #1
Death by Candlelight
Caterer extraordinaire Francesca Eve is prepared for anything. Missing canapés? No problem. Burnt brownies? A piece of cake… But a dead body? Now that’s a recipe for disaster.
In the manor house of her pretty little Shropshire village, Francesca is nervous aboutcatering her first ever murder mystery party. But it’s clear from the clink of champagne flutes that the evening is a roaring success. Until the murder suddenly stops being a game, when beautiful young teacher Becky drops dead in the dining room, and the coroner rules poisoning. Which of the guests has a deadly way with mushrooms? And why?
The local police are fixated on Francesca’s canapés, but her cooking never killed a soul, and she realises she must do some sleuthing of her own to save her reputation. From the woman having an affair, to the guest hiding her true identity, everyone in the party has a secret – and it turns out that Becky knew them all. But which secret was dangerous enough to kill for?
When Francesca’s prime suspect, the light-fingered heiress, is found murdered with another case of death by overdose, it becomes clear that a deranged killer is going off-script. And anyone who was involved in the game is in their sights, even Francesca. Can she unmask the murderer before it’s too late, or has she cooked her last supper?
In the manor house of her pretty little Shropshire village, Francesca is nervous aboutcatering her first ever murder mystery party. But it’s clear from the clink of champagne flutes that the evening is a roaring success. Until the murder suddenly stops being a game, when beautiful young teacher Becky drops dead in the dining room, and the coroner rules poisoning. Which of the guests has a deadly way with mushrooms? And why?
The local police are fixated on Francesca’s canapés, but her cooking never killed a soul, and she realises she must do some sleuthing of her own to save her reputation. From the woman having an affair, to the guest hiding her true identity, everyone in the party has a secret – and it turns out that Becky knew them all. But which secret was dangerous enough to kill for?
When Francesca’s prime suspect, the light-fingered heiress, is found murdered with another case of death by overdose, it becomes clear that a deranged killer is going off-script. And anyone who was involved in the game is in their sights, even Francesca. Can she unmask the murderer before it’s too late, or has she cooked her last supper?
326 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 9, 2022
1497 people are currently reading
903 people want to read
About the author
Emma Davies
28 books313 followersEmma Davies once applied for her dream job in the following manner;
'I am a bestselling novelist currently masquerading as a thirty something mother of three.' Well she's now a forty something mother of three, and is working on the rest.
By day she's a finance manager and looks at numbers a lot of the time, but by night she gets to use actual words and practices putting them together into sentences. Her twitter bio says she loves her family, her job, reading, writing, singing loudly in the car, and Pringles, so that must be true then.
Wave to her on twitter @Emdavies68
Letting in Light is her debut novel, and she is currently working on her second.
'I am a bestselling novelist currently masquerading as a thirty something mother of three.' Well she's now a forty something mother of three, and is working on the rest.
By day she's a finance manager and looks at numbers a lot of the time, but by night she gets to use actual words and practices putting them together into sentences. Her twitter bio says she loves her family, her job, reading, writing, singing loudly in the car, and Pringles, so that must be true then.
Wave to her on twitter @Emdavies68
Letting in Light is her debut novel, and she is currently working on her second.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
February 5, 2022
I have read a book by this author before and remembered her name when this one came up. That and the beautiful cover convinced me to read Death in Disguise and I am glad I did.
The series title is clever although I took a minute to get it since the main characters are called Adam and Fran which does not have quite the same ring to it. When you realise however that Fran is Francesca Eve it all makes perfect sense. Fran is a happily married caterer and Adam is a young single man so there is no romance at all for those people who look for that in their cosy mysteries.
There is of course a mystery and it is a well plotted one. There are quite a few possible suspects and Fran and Adam work their way though them, eliminating them one by one through the process of checking out clues and alibis. Adam is a bit of a computer geek which helps too. The murderer turns out to be a surprise.
I thought this was very nicely written, a really comfortable read with great promise for future books. I look forward to reading them.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
The series title is clever although I took a minute to get it since the main characters are called Adam and Fran which does not have quite the same ring to it. When you realise however that Fran is Francesca Eve it all makes perfect sense. Fran is a happily married caterer and Adam is a young single man so there is no romance at all for those people who look for that in their cosy mysteries.
There is of course a mystery and it is a well plotted one. There are quite a few possible suspects and Fran and Adam work their way though them, eliminating them one by one through the process of checking out clues and alibis. Adam is a bit of a computer geek which helps too. The murderer turns out to be a surprise.
I thought this was very nicely written, a really comfortable read with great promise for future books. I look forward to reading them.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
May 8, 2022
This was a cozy mystery that kept me turning the pages & thinking about it when I had to put it down and that made me like this one very much. Also to the good, the first murder doesn't take forever to happen so there's a good bit of time to work out the mystery.
Francesca Eve is a 40-something caterer who finds herself called upon to assist in investigating a death. She catered a party for a group having a "Guess-The-Murderer" theme and a couple of weeks or so later one of the attendees is dead. Adam is the 20-something son of the hostess of the party and he's worried his mother will be a suspect in what looks to be murder and calls upon Fran to help. So there's the Adam & Eve Mystery thing which plays a bit oddly (because Adam isn't even mentioned in the summary of the book). Still, these unlikely sleuths get to work and it's a good pair. They initially meet in a cupboard when Francesca is hiding from one of the ladies at the party and Adam is already hiding out there away from his mother and her friends. Social anxiety crosses generations and makes unlikely kindred spirits. I thought that was charming.
As with most cozies, there are a few bodies stacking up along the way before the culprit is landed upon. I enjoyed the journey and there were a bunch of red herrings (which also happens to be the name of a games company in the story) to keep the mind busy trying to puzzle this thing out. I had some suspicions that were correct and it felt at times a little slow for the characters to get there too. Still, there were things I didn't see that were nice clever surprises. I liked the way secrets came into play and there was even some humour throughout. The murderer made sense but was to me so disconnected from the story that the reader couldn't really have guessed them along the way. But I still liked the journey.
I look forward to reading the next one. Fran's catering and sleuthing are good and her family relatable. Adam is kind and funny and I look forward to seeing what develops in his life. The sleuthing is getting him out and interacting with people more and he seems to be enjoying it in spite of himself. I read this through Kindle Unlimited but I can say this is one I would have paid to read.
Recommended
Francesca Eve is a 40-something caterer who finds herself called upon to assist in investigating a death. She catered a party for a group having a "Guess-The-Murderer" theme and a couple of weeks or so later one of the attendees is dead. Adam is the 20-something son of the hostess of the party and he's worried his mother will be a suspect in what looks to be murder and calls upon Fran to help. So there's the Adam & Eve Mystery thing which plays a bit oddly (because Adam isn't even mentioned in the summary of the book). Still, these unlikely sleuths get to work and it's a good pair. They initially meet in a cupboard when Francesca is hiding from one of the ladies at the party and Adam is already hiding out there away from his mother and her friends. Social anxiety crosses generations and makes unlikely kindred spirits. I thought that was charming.
As with most cozies, there are a few bodies stacking up along the way before the culprit is landed upon. I enjoyed the journey and there were a bunch of red herrings (which also happens to be the name of a games company in the story) to keep the mind busy trying to puzzle this thing out. I had some suspicions that were correct and it felt at times a little slow for the characters to get there too. Still, there were things I didn't see that were nice clever surprises. I liked the way secrets came into play and there was even some humour throughout. The murderer made sense but was to me so disconnected from the story that the reader couldn't really have guessed them along the way. But I still liked the journey.
I look forward to reading the next one. Fran's catering and sleuthing are good and her family relatable. Adam is kind and funny and I look forward to seeing what develops in his life. The sleuthing is getting him out and interacting with people more and he seems to be enjoying it in spite of himself. I read this through Kindle Unlimited but I can say this is one I would have paid to read.
Recommended
November 6, 2024
ok, but a bit too drawn out
Could have been edited a bit, took a long time to get to the end. However, I did like the main characters, well drawn.
Could have been edited a bit, took a long time to get to the end. However, I did like the main characters, well drawn.
December 27, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed this expertly plotted cosy mystery. The two main players, Fran and Adam, make for an interesting and unusual pairing and it was a joy to follow their adventures. I was hooked from start to finish by the fast-moving mix of action, interviews and clue solving and certainly didn’t guess the killer. Looking forward to the next in the series!
July 23, 2022
I have so far only read one book by Emma Davies which I loved so when I came across this new cozy mystery series by her, I decided to give it a try. The sub-title 'Adam and Eve Mystery' was quite catchy and I imagined a mystery based on Adam and Eve and the forbidden fruit.
Well, instead of the Biblical Adam and Eve we have 40 years old Francesca Eve, a successful caterer and 23 years old Adam Scott, an IT geek as the protagonists and a poisonous mushroom instead of the forbidden fruit when both come together to solve the death of Becky, a friend of Adam's mother Sara, who dies in an eerily similar manner (poisoning) as her character does in a murder mystery themed birthday party hosted by Sara and catered by Francesa just a couple of weeks earlier.
This was a well plotted book with a lot of suspects and red herrings for Fran and Adam to go through before they finally crack the mystery and who the culprit is which happens almost towards the end of the book. I liked the rapport between Fran and Adam and their partnership reminded me of the protagonists of TV series 'The Net'.
My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture and the author Emma Davies for the e-Arc of the book.
Well, instead of the Biblical Adam and Eve we have 40 years old Francesca Eve, a successful caterer and 23 years old Adam Scott, an IT geek as the protagonists and a poisonous mushroom instead of the forbidden fruit when both come together to solve the death of Becky, a friend of Adam's mother Sara, who dies in an eerily similar manner (poisoning) as her character does in a murder mystery themed birthday party hosted by Sara and catered by Francesa just a couple of weeks earlier.
This was a well plotted book with a lot of suspects and red herrings for Fran and Adam to go through before they finally crack the mystery and who the culprit is which happens almost towards the end of the book. I liked the rapport between Fran and Adam and their partnership reminded me of the protagonists of TV series 'The Net'.
My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture and the author Emma Davies for the e-Arc of the book.
February 12, 2022
It's always a great pleasure to pick up from the start of a brand new cozy mystery series and this one was no exception to that. Meet Francesca Eve, a forty-year-old running a catering business from home in Shropshire. She has her first murder mystery party catering for Sara Smith's guests in Shrewsbury and the event goes well. Days later, Becky who was the murdered victim at the party, is found dead for real, apparently having been poisoned and Sara's son, Adam Smith, a software designer, 23, comes knocking on Fran's door asking for her help. Who killed Becky? A delightful mystery with some great characters, I can't wait for instalment #2. I definitely recommend this.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Bookouture via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Bookouture via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
May 15, 2022
Glorious!
What an absolutely stunning book! It had been on my TBR pile since publication day and I picked it up on Friday and I’ve not put it down since! It has perfect medley of cosy crime/mystery and humour.
It was the best whodunnit I’ve read in a long time.
The second book in the series is out at the end of May and I can’t wait.
What an absolutely stunning book! It had been on my TBR pile since publication day and I picked it up on Friday and I’ve not put it down since! It has perfect medley of cosy crime/mystery and humour.
It was the best whodunnit I’ve read in a long time.
The second book in the series is out at the end of May and I can’t wait.
March 2, 2022
Amazing book. Wonderful from start to finish. What a great start to the series. I can't wait for more! Just wow. Loved loved loved.
June 5, 2023
It is what is says on the cover, a cozy crime, a decent murder mystery, with likeable characters. It is the first in the series, a really good start.
December 6, 2024
A bit different and kept me guessing right up to the end
February 14, 2022
BLOG TOUR REVIEW
Review for 'Death In Disguise' by Emma Davies.
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous
Publication date 9th February 2022.
This is the fifth book I have read by this author. It is also the first book in her 'Adam And Eve Mystery Series'. I have previously read 'A Year At Appleyard Farm', 'The Little Island Secret', 'My Husband's Lie' and 'After The Crash' and would recommend them all!!
I was originally drawn to this book by its beautiful eye catching cover and its intriguing synopsis. I am a huge fan of Emma and if this book is half as good as 'A Year At Appleyard Farm', 'The Little Island Secret', 'My Husband's Lie' or 'After The Crash' it is bound to be an epic read!! The synopsis stated that 'If you love Clare Chase, M.C. Beaton and The Thursday Murder Club you’ll absolutely adore this unputdownable whodunnit.' I am a huge fan of Clare Chase so am interested to see if it will live up to this statement. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of 28 chapters. The chapters are medium to long in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is based in Shropshire, England 🏴 , UK 🇬🇧. The bonus for me of books that are partly or fully based in the UK is that I live in the UK and have sometimes visited places mentioned in the book which makes it easier to picture. I have actually visited and stayed in Shropshire so am looking forward to seeing if I recognise any places mentioned in the book.
This book is written in third person perspective with the main protagonists being Francesca Eve and Adam Smith. The benefits of third person perspective with multiple protagonists are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything.
WOW!!! JUST WOW!!! EMMA YOU ARE JUST FULL OF SURPRISES AREN'T YOU? YOU CAN JUMP FROM GENRE TO GENRE ABSOLUTELY PERFECTLY AND WHETHER IT IS A ROMANCE OR WOMEN'S FICTION YOU SLAM DUNK IT EVERY TIME AND THIS BOOK IS NO EXCEPTION!!!
Another huge success by Emma Davies!!! This book is beautifully written and filled with vivid descriptions to the point where I can hear the sea crashing and smell the beach while curled up on the sofa reading. The cover and synopsis suit the storyline perfectly.
LOVE, LOVE, LOVED IT!!! BEST COSY MYSTERY EVER!!!!
I must admit that I had no idea what to expect when I started reading this but I will start by repeating that you Emma are a lady of many talents!!! The first book of yours that I fell in love with was 'My Husband's Lie' which was a psychological fiction filled with mystery and suspense, I then read 'A year at Applewood farm' which was filled with romance, I moved onto 'The Little Island Secret ' which was a gorgeous romantic holiday fiction and the last book I read by you was 'After The Crash' which was a romantic mystery. Yet here we have a cosy mystery and yet again you have outshone yourself!! Does your talent have no boundaries? This not just being a typical cosy mystery but one that had me laughing with tears on several occasions by Fran!!! Not many people can jump from one genre to another and even less do it well but you have done an absolutely fantastic job Emma!!!! Congratulations and I am looking forward to your next successful surprise!!
The storyline is absolutely addictive starting off with the perfect atmosphere for a cosy mystery being a murder mystery party!! A unique and perfectly fitting start for an actual murder mystery!! This is most definitely the best cosy mystery I have ever read!!! It was filled with murder, suspense, mystery, humour and rammed full of red herrings!! What more could you ever ask for in a cosy mystery? This book is perfect to read curled up by a fire or relaxing on a beach. There were so many different red herrings and different leads that Emma took me down and I enjoyed solving the puzzle along with Fran and Adam. I would never have worked out who the killer was so a MASSIVE CONGRATULATIONS to Emma for managing to surprise me. I have read several books by authors who have only ever written mysteries and yet have worked out the whodunit by 50% in some which is a pet hate for me. However, you normally write romance novelsz and amazing ones at that, and yet managed to completely shock me!!! I also loved how everything was explained and tied up as another pet hate of mine is when a piece of the puzzle is mentioned then seemingly forgotten and never spoken of again. Emma, I absolutely LOVED this book which is an absolutely, perfectly explosive start to what certainly promises to be an absolutely epic new series!!! I would LOVE to see this book turned into a movie which is sure to be a huge hit. Keep up the amazing work and I cannot wait for your next success whether it's another romance or the second part in this fantastic series!!
Well, I must say I think that is the quickest that I have ever bonded with a character!! I absolutely love Fran!!! When it started and I realised that she was a 50 year old caterer I did not know what to expect but straight away her personality lit up like a lighthouse. She made me laugh until I had tears streaming down my face. I can't remember the last time a character made me laugh so much! The fact that this was a cosy murder mystery was even better as she definitely made it lighter than most I have read. She is such a larger than life and bubbly character who says it as it is, doesn't take any crud and has the most gorgeous personality. She is friendly, knows what to says who to trust and the fact that she swears now and again makes her my perfect cup of tea!! Fran is definitely the type of woman I would want by my side whether I wanted to laugh, cry or have a 5 course meal. The fact that she just walked into Nick's home, a stranger she had never met, and just started cleaning his kitchen and arranging his food was brilliant!!! I immediately clicked with her after the first few pages. I am happy to say that the same went with Adam who was nervous, funny and minced his words. They are complete opposites who made the perfect team. Again, neither knew each other previously yet they hit it off straight away and their second meeting was just perfect. When Fran answers the door to him after previously having just a ten minute conversation with him weeks before and goes on to shoving a spoon in his face to try food, it just couldn't have been more perfect!!! These two complete opposites couldn't have made a more perfect pairing and I cannot wait to meet them both again. They are most certainly the type of characters whose personalities stay with you for a long time and I've already started missing them... Hint hint Emma 😉
DO NOT PICK THIS BOOK UP INTOL YOU HAVE CLEARED YOUR SCHEDULES AS YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PUT IT DOWN! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED ⚠!!
Yet one more HUGE CONGRATULATIONS Emma on the best cosy mystery I have ever read and I am impatiently waiting for the next success in this series!!
Overall an absolutely addictive, hilarious, fun, light hearted cosy mystery which will keep you up until 2am turning the pages
Genres covered in this novel include Murder mystery, Cozy Mystery and Crime Fiction amongst others.
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as FANS of Agatha Christie, Clare Chase, Helena Dixon and anyone who loves an amazing cosy mystery and especially you reading this!! .
326 pages.
This book is just 99p to purchase on kindle via Amazon or free on kindle unlimited (at time of review) which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 5/5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews
#DeathInDisguise #Bookouture #EmmaDavies #NetGalley #BookReview #BlogTour #BooksOnTour
@EmmaDavies @Bookouture @Bookworm1986 @bookworm86
https://kcmw86.wixsite.com/bookworm86
https://m.facebook.com/Bookworm1986/?...
https://m.facebook.com/Bookwork86/?__...
Review for 'Death In Disguise' by Emma Davies.
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous
Publication date 9th February 2022.
This is the fifth book I have read by this author. It is also the first book in her 'Adam And Eve Mystery Series'. I have previously read 'A Year At Appleyard Farm', 'The Little Island Secret', 'My Husband's Lie' and 'After The Crash' and would recommend them all!!
I was originally drawn to this book by its beautiful eye catching cover and its intriguing synopsis. I am a huge fan of Emma and if this book is half as good as 'A Year At Appleyard Farm', 'The Little Island Secret', 'My Husband's Lie' or 'After The Crash' it is bound to be an epic read!! The synopsis stated that 'If you love Clare Chase, M.C. Beaton and The Thursday Murder Club you’ll absolutely adore this unputdownable whodunnit.' I am a huge fan of Clare Chase so am interested to see if it will live up to this statement. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of 28 chapters. The chapters are medium to long in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is based in Shropshire, England 🏴 , UK 🇬🇧. The bonus for me of books that are partly or fully based in the UK is that I live in the UK and have sometimes visited places mentioned in the book which makes it easier to picture. I have actually visited and stayed in Shropshire so am looking forward to seeing if I recognise any places mentioned in the book.
This book is written in third person perspective with the main protagonists being Francesca Eve and Adam Smith. The benefits of third person perspective with multiple protagonists are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything.
WOW!!! JUST WOW!!! EMMA YOU ARE JUST FULL OF SURPRISES AREN'T YOU? YOU CAN JUMP FROM GENRE TO GENRE ABSOLUTELY PERFECTLY AND WHETHER IT IS A ROMANCE OR WOMEN'S FICTION YOU SLAM DUNK IT EVERY TIME AND THIS BOOK IS NO EXCEPTION!!!
Another huge success by Emma Davies!!! This book is beautifully written and filled with vivid descriptions to the point where I can hear the sea crashing and smell the beach while curled up on the sofa reading. The cover and synopsis suit the storyline perfectly.
LOVE, LOVE, LOVED IT!!! BEST COSY MYSTERY EVER!!!!
I must admit that I had no idea what to expect when I started reading this but I will start by repeating that you Emma are a lady of many talents!!! The first book of yours that I fell in love with was 'My Husband's Lie' which was a psychological fiction filled with mystery and suspense, I then read 'A year at Applewood farm' which was filled with romance, I moved onto 'The Little Island Secret ' which was a gorgeous romantic holiday fiction and the last book I read by you was 'After The Crash' which was a romantic mystery. Yet here we have a cosy mystery and yet again you have outshone yourself!! Does your talent have no boundaries? This not just being a typical cosy mystery but one that had me laughing with tears on several occasions by Fran!!! Not many people can jump from one genre to another and even less do it well but you have done an absolutely fantastic job Emma!!!! Congratulations and I am looking forward to your next successful surprise!!
The storyline is absolutely addictive starting off with the perfect atmosphere for a cosy mystery being a murder mystery party!! A unique and perfectly fitting start for an actual murder mystery!! This is most definitely the best cosy mystery I have ever read!!! It was filled with murder, suspense, mystery, humour and rammed full of red herrings!! What more could you ever ask for in a cosy mystery? This book is perfect to read curled up by a fire or relaxing on a beach. There were so many different red herrings and different leads that Emma took me down and I enjoyed solving the puzzle along with Fran and Adam. I would never have worked out who the killer was so a MASSIVE CONGRATULATIONS to Emma for managing to surprise me. I have read several books by authors who have only ever written mysteries and yet have worked out the whodunit by 50% in some which is a pet hate for me. However, you normally write romance novelsz and amazing ones at that, and yet managed to completely shock me!!! I also loved how everything was explained and tied up as another pet hate of mine is when a piece of the puzzle is mentioned then seemingly forgotten and never spoken of again. Emma, I absolutely LOVED this book which is an absolutely, perfectly explosive start to what certainly promises to be an absolutely epic new series!!! I would LOVE to see this book turned into a movie which is sure to be a huge hit. Keep up the amazing work and I cannot wait for your next success whether it's another romance or the second part in this fantastic series!!
Well, I must say I think that is the quickest that I have ever bonded with a character!! I absolutely love Fran!!! When it started and I realised that she was a 50 year old caterer I did not know what to expect but straight away her personality lit up like a lighthouse. She made me laugh until I had tears streaming down my face. I can't remember the last time a character made me laugh so much! The fact that this was a cosy murder mystery was even better as she definitely made it lighter than most I have read. She is such a larger than life and bubbly character who says it as it is, doesn't take any crud and has the most gorgeous personality. She is friendly, knows what to says who to trust and the fact that she swears now and again makes her my perfect cup of tea!! Fran is definitely the type of woman I would want by my side whether I wanted to laugh, cry or have a 5 course meal. The fact that she just walked into Nick's home, a stranger she had never met, and just started cleaning his kitchen and arranging his food was brilliant!!! I immediately clicked with her after the first few pages. I am happy to say that the same went with Adam who was nervous, funny and minced his words. They are complete opposites who made the perfect team. Again, neither knew each other previously yet they hit it off straight away and their second meeting was just perfect. When Fran answers the door to him after previously having just a ten minute conversation with him weeks before and goes on to shoving a spoon in his face to try food, it just couldn't have been more perfect!!! These two complete opposites couldn't have made a more perfect pairing and I cannot wait to meet them both again. They are most certainly the type of characters whose personalities stay with you for a long time and I've already started missing them... Hint hint Emma 😉
DO NOT PICK THIS BOOK UP INTOL YOU HAVE CLEARED YOUR SCHEDULES AS YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PUT IT DOWN! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED ⚠!!
Yet one more HUGE CONGRATULATIONS Emma on the best cosy mystery I have ever read and I am impatiently waiting for the next success in this series!!
Overall an absolutely addictive, hilarious, fun, light hearted cosy mystery which will keep you up until 2am turning the pages
Genres covered in this novel include Murder mystery, Cozy Mystery and Crime Fiction amongst others.
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as FANS of Agatha Christie, Clare Chase, Helena Dixon and anyone who loves an amazing cosy mystery and especially you reading this!! .
326 pages.
This book is just 99p to purchase on kindle via Amazon or free on kindle unlimited (at time of review) which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 5/5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews
#DeathInDisguise #Bookouture #EmmaDavies #NetGalley #BookReview #BlogTour #BooksOnTour
@EmmaDavies @Bookouture @Bookworm1986 @bookworm86
https://kcmw86.wixsite.com/bookworm86
https://m.facebook.com/Bookworm1986/?...
https://m.facebook.com/Bookwork86/?__...
November 10, 2025
A caterer ducks into a closet to avoid an unpleasant woman at a murder mystery party she is catering and meets the host’s son, also hiding out from the party and his mum’s friends. They overhear a conversation that later on will contribute to solving a murder. The murderee at the party I’d murdered in real life two weeks later with death cap mushrooms. The son of the party host visits the caterer as he is afraid his mother is being set up. They begin on an investigation that eventually leads to the truth. A good read.
August 1, 2025
3.75 Stars
December 19, 2021
Rating: 4.2/5
This is the most enjoyable cosy mystery that I have read in a while. It is a heavily populated genre and, unfortunately, many of the books that make it into print are pretty mediocre parodies of themselves - often more a case of cheesy mysteries rather than cosy mysteries. I am pleased to say that no such criticism applies here.
Yes, "Death in Disguise" contains the core elements that fans of the genre would expect from a cosy mystery: We have the amateur detective (Francesca Eve) from a small community (rural Shropshire) with a very normal day job (a party caterer) that brings her into contact with other members of local society; an absence of graphic violence and profane language; and, of course, more than a sprinkling of light-hearted humour. But I am delighted to say that this novel offers much more than that. There is a sound mystery adventure at the heart of the story. It is a "whodunnit" in the traditional style, but the plot has a proper structure that has been robustly put together and bears fictional scrutiny. As Fran's cohort in this novel, Adam Smith, states, "people ... don't want something which is unrealistic or has loopholes or plot narratives that don't hang together ... Puzzlers like puzzles, and they can spot one that doesn't work a mile away." Author, Emma Davies, is true to her character's words and has delivered an enjoyable and rounded cosy mystery.
If you enjoy the likes of Richard Osman's "Thursday Murder Club", then this book is almost certainly going to appeal to you. Although I would venture to say that this is a better example of the genre than Mr Osman's offering. I am very glad that I have picked up on this "Adam & Eve" series from the outset and I will certainly be returning for book two.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.
This is the most enjoyable cosy mystery that I have read in a while. It is a heavily populated genre and, unfortunately, many of the books that make it into print are pretty mediocre parodies of themselves - often more a case of cheesy mysteries rather than cosy mysteries. I am pleased to say that no such criticism applies here.
Yes, "Death in Disguise" contains the core elements that fans of the genre would expect from a cosy mystery: We have the amateur detective (Francesca Eve) from a small community (rural Shropshire) with a very normal day job (a party caterer) that brings her into contact with other members of local society; an absence of graphic violence and profane language; and, of course, more than a sprinkling of light-hearted humour. But I am delighted to say that this novel offers much more than that. There is a sound mystery adventure at the heart of the story. It is a "whodunnit" in the traditional style, but the plot has a proper structure that has been robustly put together and bears fictional scrutiny. As Fran's cohort in this novel, Adam Smith, states, "people ... don't want something which is unrealistic or has loopholes or plot narratives that don't hang together ... Puzzlers like puzzles, and they can spot one that doesn't work a mile away." Author, Emma Davies, is true to her character's words and has delivered an enjoyable and rounded cosy mystery.
If you enjoy the likes of Richard Osman's "Thursday Murder Club", then this book is almost certainly going to appeal to you. Although I would venture to say that this is a better example of the genre than Mr Osman's offering. I am very glad that I have picked up on this "Adam & Eve" series from the outset and I will certainly be returning for book two.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.
February 6, 2022
4.5 Stars
Francesca Eve is nervous about catering her first ever murder mystery party for a fiftieth birthday, but it’s clear from the clink of champagne flutes and piles of empty plates that the evening is a roaring success. However to avoid a guest who wants Fran to give a career talk to student, Fran finds herself hiding in the understairs cupboard where she meets Sara's son Adam. The guests look spectacular in their disguises, whispering and giggling as they try to identify who killed beautiful young Becky. But days later the game takes a sinister turn when Becky is found poisoned, and all the signs point to the culprit being a party guest. From the woman having an affair to the guest hiding her true identity, everyone had a secret – and it turns out that Becky knew them all. As Fran finds herself centre-stage in a real-life murder mystery, the finger of suspicion points at each guest in turn. Then the body of a second guest is found, and it becomes clear a deranged killer is going off-script.
This is the first book I’ve read by the author plus the start of a new series. It took me a little while to get into the story but once I did I was engrossed & loved it. I loved Fran the diminutive caterer with a supportive husband & teenage daughter & I also loved the brilliant Adam who had lots of quirks. If I’d read about their relationship in the blurb I would have thought it wouldn't work & I would have been totally wrong – I loved the dynamics of their relationship & how Adam blossomed. There were red herrings, twists & turns plus assumptions which made this a very good cosy mystery & I look forward to more in the series
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
Francesca Eve is nervous about catering her first ever murder mystery party for a fiftieth birthday, but it’s clear from the clink of champagne flutes and piles of empty plates that the evening is a roaring success. However to avoid a guest who wants Fran to give a career talk to student, Fran finds herself hiding in the understairs cupboard where she meets Sara's son Adam. The guests look spectacular in their disguises, whispering and giggling as they try to identify who killed beautiful young Becky. But days later the game takes a sinister turn when Becky is found poisoned, and all the signs point to the culprit being a party guest. From the woman having an affair to the guest hiding her true identity, everyone had a secret – and it turns out that Becky knew them all. As Fran finds herself centre-stage in a real-life murder mystery, the finger of suspicion points at each guest in turn. Then the body of a second guest is found, and it becomes clear a deranged killer is going off-script.
This is the first book I’ve read by the author plus the start of a new series. It took me a little while to get into the story but once I did I was engrossed & loved it. I loved Fran the diminutive caterer with a supportive husband & teenage daughter & I also loved the brilliant Adam who had lots of quirks. If I’d read about their relationship in the blurb I would have thought it wouldn't work & I would have been totally wrong – I loved the dynamics of their relationship & how Adam blossomed. There were red herrings, twists & turns plus assumptions which made this a very good cosy mystery & I look forward to more in the series
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
February 9, 2022
Francesca Eve was excited and nervous about catering her very first murder mystery dinner party. It’s evident that all the guests had a wonderful and memorable time. The guest dressed beautifully in their disguises, and acting their part in the game, trying to identify who killed Becky. But then days later Becky is found poisoned and all the signs point to a guest from the party. Becky knew each and every guest at the party, and everyone is hiding something. Francesca finds herself in the middle of the action, in finding out who poisoned Becky. Then the body of a second guest is found and it is apparent that each guest that participated in the game that night is in danger, including Francesca. I thoroughly enjoyed this cozy mystery. The plot twist and turns kept me on the edge of my seat. I am so happy to know it is just the beginning of a series, as I really enjoyed reading the adventures Francesca, she was definitely a likable character that the reader can really connect with. I can’t wait to read the continuation of this series. It is a must read for every cozy mystery fan, I loved it.
Thank you Emma Davies for such wonderful start to what is proving to be a great series. I thoroughly enjoyed this book from beginning to end. I can’t wait for the next installment in this series. I highly recommend it.
Thank you Emma Davies for such wonderful start to what is proving to be a great series. I thoroughly enjoyed this book from beginning to end. I can’t wait for the next installment in this series. I highly recommend it.
February 22, 2022
I am reading more and more cozies recently. I am slightly disappointed however, that even amateur detectives who though amateur do have a basic understanding of detecting seem to go headlong into places and events where a bit more careful planning should precede. Francesca, our main character in this story is one of them. It leads me to have doubts on the story though this story was interesting enough.
Francesca caters very successfully for various events. When she accidentally eavesdrops on a conversation during a lunch between two ladies (and she cannot identify who they are), and when one of the ladies at the lunch dies of mushroom poisoning a two week later her suspicions are aroused. She is joined in her madcap endeavor to discover who the murderer is by the nerdy son of another of the ladies at the luncheon. He has joined in the search purely to exonerate his mother who may fall under suspicion.
Following the two, and then another murder both Francesca and Adam know that the murderer is getting cornered and will not hesitate to murder again. In this story the police detectives are notably absent other than an appearance or two.
The murderer found and all ends well.
Francesca caters very successfully for various events. When she accidentally eavesdrops on a conversation during a lunch between two ladies (and she cannot identify who they are), and when one of the ladies at the lunch dies of mushroom poisoning a two week later her suspicions are aroused. She is joined in her madcap endeavor to discover who the murderer is by the nerdy son of another of the ladies at the luncheon. He has joined in the search purely to exonerate his mother who may fall under suspicion.
Following the two, and then another murder both Francesca and Adam know that the murderer is getting cornered and will not hesitate to murder again. In this story the police detectives are notably absent other than an appearance or two.
The murderer found and all ends well.
February 5, 2025
Too unbelievable
The blurb is completely inaccurate.
Initially I liked the characters and the plot, but at about half way I skim read to the end. I guessed the killer simply because there is one person who gets mentioned a few times but we don't meet. There was only one reason to mention them.
The plot is ludicrous as is the idea that because they'd played a murder mystery game the murderer in the game would be the immediate suspect.
Becky's death is suspicious but there is very little police involvement until the end.
The blurb is completely inaccurate.
Initially I liked the characters and the plot, but at about half way I skim read to the end. I guessed the killer simply because there is one person who gets mentioned a few times but we don't meet. There was only one reason to mention them.
The plot is ludicrous as is the idea that because they'd played a murder mystery game the murderer in the game would be the immediate suspect.
Becky's death is suspicious but there is very little police involvement until the end.
August 10, 2022
3.75 stars
Entertaining and well-paced series debut featuring a happily married 40 something caterer and her unlikely crime solving oartner, a mid twenties video game designer. Lots of fun.
Entertaining and well-paced series debut featuring a happily married 40 something caterer and her unlikely crime solving oartner, a mid twenties video game designer. Lots of fun.
September 7, 2023
Not as good as her romance novels, the story felt thin and underdeveloped to me
February 20, 2025
Wow, this was such a good book! Fran Eve is a cook/caterer and works from home in Shropshire. She has a booking for a murder mystery evening at Sara's house to celebrate her birthday. She's never catered for the trend of murder mystery parties before so this is a new venture for her. On the evening the murdered competitor falls down across the table gurgling and dies. Everyone panics until she sits up again! She was a very good actress they all said. Then 2 weeks later she dies again, this time permanently, poisoned by a deadly mushroom. Sara calls Fran in a panic to let her know what has happened and says the police think Becky's husband has done it.
Well on the night of the party Fran sees someone she dislikes and wants to avoid so with nowhere to hide she gets into a cupboard. Then finds somebody else in there! Adam, Sara's son!! He's on the asperger's spectrum and is hiding from his mum, only he has heard something very worrying whilst hiding in there and repeats what he heard to Fran. Fran remembers this after hearing of Becky's death and on telling Sara she changes it to it was she who overheard this, and doesn't mention Adam. Well I wouldn't either if I was hiding in a cupboard with her 23yr old lovely son!
Adam turns up at Fran's house because he is worried that the police might think it was his mum who killed Becky, he's a bit of a worrier that lad but then his dad has died and now he only has his mum, so they begin to try and work out who wanted Becky dead. It turns out that she has altered the details of each character's name to give them a backstory of different personalities, for example one had on her playing card that she was a thief (which was actually true but hadn't spread that abroad) and so on with the other players. A bit far fetched in parts but nevertheless it certainly was a fast ride and I really liked the interaction between lovely young Adam and quite mumsy Fran! I think that they should run their own detective agency! Although running round to find a murderer is a deadly business but Emma Davies here has created two lovely warm and funny contrasting characters. I've noted that there is another in this series so will be looking into that later today!
Well on the night of the party Fran sees someone she dislikes and wants to avoid so with nowhere to hide she gets into a cupboard. Then finds somebody else in there! Adam, Sara's son!! He's on the asperger's spectrum and is hiding from his mum, only he has heard something very worrying whilst hiding in there and repeats what he heard to Fran. Fran remembers this after hearing of Becky's death and on telling Sara she changes it to it was she who overheard this, and doesn't mention Adam. Well I wouldn't either if I was hiding in a cupboard with her 23yr old lovely son!
Adam turns up at Fran's house because he is worried that the police might think it was his mum who killed Becky, he's a bit of a worrier that lad but then his dad has died and now he only has his mum, so they begin to try and work out who wanted Becky dead. It turns out that she has altered the details of each character's name to give them a backstory of different personalities, for example one had on her playing card that she was a thief (which was actually true but hadn't spread that abroad) and so on with the other players. A bit far fetched in parts but nevertheless it certainly was a fast ride and I really liked the interaction between lovely young Adam and quite mumsy Fran! I think that they should run their own detective agency! Although running round to find a murderer is a deadly business but Emma Davies here has created two lovely warm and funny contrasting characters. I've noted that there is another in this series so will be looking into that later today!
January 16, 2025
Thanks to Amazon Prime and BookOuture for a digital copy. All comments and opinions are my own.
At first this was a fun British cozy mystery, introducing two amiable amateur sleuths in an unlikely pairing. Fran is a 40-something caterer, wife and mother who teams up with Adam, a twenty-three-year-old tech professional. They meet while Fran is catering a murder mystery dinner for Adam’s mom and her friends.
A few days later one of these friends is poisoned, and Fran joins Adam in solving what can only be murder to prove that Adam’s mom is not the murderer. While there are a variety of characters to keep track of, they are different enough that it wasn’t confusing.
Fran and Adam uncover secrets, lies, betrayals, jealousy and more while putting together the clues that will uncover who murdered Becky and why. I had fun solving the mystery along with them, but after finishing the book, I felt there were several questionable issues that left me feeling cheated. Being careful not to give away any spoilers, let’s just say upon reflection I had a few issues with how the discovered murderer knew what she knew, appeared where she did, and manipulated so many people to her advantage.
Despite the pluses, due to the plot holes and unbelievable twists at the conclusion, this only gets 3 stars from me. And heads up – the title has nothing to do with the story, and the publisher’s description doesn’t match the novel I read.
At first this was a fun British cozy mystery, introducing two amiable amateur sleuths in an unlikely pairing. Fran is a 40-something caterer, wife and mother who teams up with Adam, a twenty-three-year-old tech professional. They meet while Fran is catering a murder mystery dinner for Adam’s mom and her friends.
A few days later one of these friends is poisoned, and Fran joins Adam in solving what can only be murder to prove that Adam’s mom is not the murderer. While there are a variety of characters to keep track of, they are different enough that it wasn’t confusing.
Fran and Adam uncover secrets, lies, betrayals, jealousy and more while putting together the clues that will uncover who murdered Becky and why. I had fun solving the mystery along with them, but after finishing the book, I felt there were several questionable issues that left me feeling cheated. Being careful not to give away any spoilers, let’s just say upon reflection I had a few issues with how the discovered murderer knew what she knew, appeared where she did, and manipulated so many people to her advantage.
Despite the pluses, due to the plot holes and unbelievable twists at the conclusion, this only gets 3 stars from me. And heads up – the title has nothing to do with the story, and the publisher’s description doesn’t match the novel I read.
January 3, 2025
Despite their age difference, Fran and Adam became partners in solving a murder. Even though they aren't police detectives they use those skills to eventually solve the murder of Becky.
The murderer will end up to be somebody not originally featured in the book,similar to a dark horse. The suspect I had guessed was not involved in the murder at all.
This is an excellent cozy mystery book. The author stayed focused on the main plot which I liked. I only say that because many authors introduce extra characters and sub plots, which is unnecessary.
However this author did have room for improvement in her writing style. I'm giving the book a 4 instead of a 5 because of this. I felt she included too many details for specific events, where just using a sentence would have been enough. The dialogue Fran had with Adam and others were too drawn out, and facts were repeated as the clues were examined. Maybe this was necessary, but I found it annoying, and made the story very long.
So I skimmed the rest of the book, bypassing all those extra moments.
In conclusion, there were many parts of the book that I did enjoy. So if you want to read a great murder mystery, and you don't want romance, many characters, or sub plots, I encourage you to read this book.
The murderer will end up to be somebody not originally featured in the book,similar to a dark horse. The suspect I had guessed was not involved in the murder at all.
This is an excellent cozy mystery book. The author stayed focused on the main plot which I liked. I only say that because many authors introduce extra characters and sub plots, which is unnecessary.
However this author did have room for improvement in her writing style. I'm giving the book a 4 instead of a 5 because of this. I felt she included too many details for specific events, where just using a sentence would have been enough. The dialogue Fran had with Adam and others were too drawn out, and facts were repeated as the clues were examined. Maybe this was necessary, but I found it annoying, and made the story very long.
So I skimmed the rest of the book, bypassing all those extra moments.
In conclusion, there were many parts of the book that I did enjoy. So if you want to read a great murder mystery, and you don't want romance, many characters, or sub plots, I encourage you to read this book.
November 6, 2024
When Fran Eve was hired to cater for a murder mystery party, she didn't realise that the party game would turn into a real-life scenario. Nor did she expect to be dragged into the unfolding events - as an amateur detective!
Death by Candlelight is one of those introductory mysteries that sets up the premise and gives the reader a chance to meet the primary characters. But, it is so much more than that! There's warmth and heart and energy all packed on top of a powerfully twisty mystery that takes the perfect amount of time to unpack. From the beginning, I was drawn into the intrigue of the relationships between the participants and could not free myself from their spell. Ultimately, I was delighted when my pick for villain was proven false and there were even more delicious layers to delve into.
Set aside a good chunk of time for reading this book—it's so irresistible that you may be drawn in for a cover-to-cover read!
Death by Candlelight is one of those introductory mysteries that sets up the premise and gives the reader a chance to meet the primary characters. But, it is so much more than that! There's warmth and heart and energy all packed on top of a powerfully twisty mystery that takes the perfect amount of time to unpack. From the beginning, I was drawn into the intrigue of the relationships between the participants and could not free myself from their spell. Ultimately, I was delighted when my pick for villain was proven false and there were even more delicious layers to delve into.
Set aside a good chunk of time for reading this book—it's so irresistible that you may be drawn in for a cover-to-cover read!
November 28, 2024
The plot is OK, but rather derivative. The main character/narrator. is a caterer, which provides a rationale for her involvement, but again a common choice in today's cozies. It also, as usual, means we spend a lot of time in the kitchen of her pleasant home with her husband and teenage daughter. Neither one contributes much and are rarely seen, serving only to emphasize the nice, normal family trope. and eliminating the slow-burn romance that typically appears in this genre.
The murder part is OK, although the solution is a bit out-of-left-field.
The only truly original and very well executed aspect of the book is the character of Adam, our heroine's helpmate in the investigation. Oddly, although this is presented as an 'Adam and eve' mystery, Adam is not even mentioned in the blurb. Nevertheless, he was the main reason the book kept my interest.
Not terrible, but not great. So 3 stars from me.
The murder part is OK, although the solution is a bit out-of-left-field.
The only truly original and very well executed aspect of the book is the character of Adam, our heroine's helpmate in the investigation. Oddly, although this is presented as an 'Adam and eve' mystery, Adam is not even mentioned in the blurb. Nevertheless, he was the main reason the book kept my interest.
Not terrible, but not great. So 3 stars from me.
October 22, 2025
Okay, I’ll be real — this book started off ridiculously silly. Why on earth was this random woman suddenly helping solve a murder? Ma’am, go home.
By the 25% mark, I was so close to DNF’ing. I even tried to cheat and ask ChatGPT who the culprit was (no luck). So I went back to skim, just to get it over with… and somehow, I ended up actually reading again. Because plot twists started dropping, people got interesting, and the story suddenly had me hooked.
What started as a “why am I reading this?” turned into a “wait, that was actually pretty good!” Kind of a cozy mystery for spooky season — messy start, but a surprisingly fun finish.
By the 25% mark, I was so close to DNF’ing. I even tried to cheat and ask ChatGPT who the culprit was (no luck). So I went back to skim, just to get it over with… and somehow, I ended up actually reading again. Because plot twists started dropping, people got interesting, and the story suddenly had me hooked.
What started as a “why am I reading this?” turned into a “wait, that was actually pretty good!” Kind of a cozy mystery for spooky season — messy start, but a surprisingly fun finish.
December 27, 2024
Fran and Adam make a fun duo, an ordinary pair of people trying to help themselves and their loved ones out by solving a murder. This isn't your action packed, huge reveal climax mystery, it's rather ordinary in a lot of ways which actually makes it a little endearing. Not sure if I'll continue the series but I was pleasantly surprised by this book and just how likable the characters were. The last third of the book was a little hard to finish, felt like the answer to the mystery didn't quite match the rest of the book, felt a bit disruptive but overall decent book.
November 26, 2024
An unusual pairing of characters
This was an interesting mystery. The writer wove a story of intrigue using a college-aged young man and a caterer who had made and served a meal for his mother 's birthday party. First one person dies and then another as the two try to figure out who the murder is.
This was an interesting mystery. The writer wove a story of intrigue using a college-aged young man and a caterer who had made and served a meal for his mother 's birthday party. First one person dies and then another as the two try to figure out who the murder is.
February 7, 2025
Really Enjoyed
Excellent mystery (I certainly didn't guess the murderer). More than that I really enjoyed how Adam and Eve became such good friends and how Adam became more accepting of himself. The characters were all very well written and believable. I've already bought the next one and can't wait to start it.
Excellent mystery (I certainly didn't guess the murderer). More than that I really enjoyed how Adam and Eve became such good friends and how Adam became more accepting of himself. The characters were all very well written and believable. I've already bought the next one and can't wait to start it.
November 12, 2025
the history is inconsistent, a good exercise of writing, a book to read by the beach or pool.
Some connections or deductions make no sense and are pretty forced, which makes appear the detective work the characters make forced or fake, transforming the story from credible to just a fairytale we have to pretend to believe.
Stuffing the story with food doesn't make it cozy automatically.
Some connections or deductions make no sense and are pretty forced, which makes appear the detective work the characters make forced or fake, transforming the story from credible to just a fairytale we have to pretend to believe.
Stuffing the story with food doesn't make it cozy automatically.
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