Not Mushroom for Death by Helen Golden Series: A Right Royal Cozy Investigation #3
Published by Drew Bradley Press on December 14, 2022
Source: Rachel's Random Resources
Genres: Cozy Mystery
Pages: 350
Format: eBook
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TV Chef Luca Mazza Dies After Collapse at Food Show on the King’s Private Estate
Luca Mazza (38), who was taken ill during a food demonstration at the Fenn House Food and Wine Festival two days ago, is now known to have ingested poison. Lady Beatrice (36), the king’s niece, who is working on a refurbishment project at Fenn House with her business partner Perry Juke (34), is believed to be comforting Luca’s boss and close friend Sebastiano Marchetti (38), who she began dating last month.
Is he crazy? Why else would Detective Chief Inspector Richard Fitzwilliam suggest that Sebastiano poisoned Luca without any evidence? So now, with the help of her little dog Daisy and her best friends Perry and Simon, Lady Beatrice will have to prove to Mr Know-it-all Fitzwilliam that Seb is innocent. But with so many people having access to the food preparation area at the show how will she find out who did murder Luca before Fitzwilliam lets his personal dislike get the better of him and arrests Seb?
Lady Beatrice, Simon Lattimore, and Perry Juke are back at it again and totally at odds with Detective Chief Inspector Richard Fitzwilliam. I really enjoy these characters. Lady Bea can get a little annoying, but the banter between her, Simon, and Perry, and the friction with Fitzwilliam make up for it.
There is a celebrity cooking event being held on the grounds of Fenn House, the king’s private estate in Fenshire. Lady Bea and Perry are at the estate to refurbish several rooms of Fenn House. Sebastiano Marchetti, Bea’s boyfriend, is there too, overseeing the event which features several celebrity chefs. I was not a fan of Seb in the last book and continue to feel the same way. Daisy, Bea’s West Highland Terrier, doesn’t like him either.
When chef Luca Mazza becomes ill after his demonstration and ends up dying, Fitzwilliam has to investigate and decide if it is accidental or murder. Of course, Bea and her friends can’t help sticking their noses in, both to prove Seb is not the killer and to solve the case before Fitzwilliam.
The mystery was put together well with plenty of clues and dead ends to keep you on your toes. There’s a good mix of returning characters and new arrivals. Not Mushroom for Death would work as a stand-alone, but I do think it’s better to read the series in order. I think the prequel comes out next month – I’m looking forward to it.
About Helen Golden
Helen Golden writes British contemporary cozy whodunnits with a hint of humour. She lives in small village in Lincolnshire in the UK with her husband, her step-daughter, two cats, two dogs, sometimes her step-son, and a tortoise.
She used to work in senior management, but after her recent job came to a natural end she had the opportunity to follow her dreams and start writing.