A rollicking romp set in the sumptuous Loire Valley, “Death and Croissants” combines amateur detectives with sharp humor, delivering a pleasing cosy mystery read. Richard, a shy Brit running a small bed and breakfast amongst the rural French, is catapulted into an adventure with sophisticated Valerie when a guest vanishes, leaving behind only a bloody handprint. The pleasure of this novel lies less in the mild murder puzzle or the hectic uncovering of clues, than in the amusing repartee between Richard and Valerie, and the French ambience. For cosy mystery lovers recently titillated by The Thursday Murder Club (which I enjoyed), Death and Croissants is a pleasurable debut.
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