J.A. LangRezensionen

Fun(gus) little read, filled with subtle (and less subtle) hints towards that great Belgian detective. Also heaps of mushroom knowledge.
The characters were so quirky they felt exaggerated, but I did enjoy this quick (free) read.

This was a bad read for me. I found it lacking and rather dull. I think this book would be better suited for people who like boring books.

When Chef Maurice, proprietor and head chef of Le Cochon Rouge, went to find out why he hadn’t received his mushroom order from Ollie, his supplier, he discovered that the police arrived before him. Ollie was missing but, through some sneaky snooping, Chef Maurice found his order as well as a stash of some very rare and expensive White Alba truffles.
He didn’t know where Ollie had found the truffles but decided to look for them himself. To do so, he had to get a dog who was trained to hunt for truffles since they grew below ground. Chef Maurice had to settle for Hamilton, a pig, who he thought he could train to locate the hidden treasure. Along the way. Hamilton got kidnapped and Chef Maurice got threatened. That didn’t stop him from pursuing his objective.
Part of the story is told from Hamilton’s perspective.
J. A. Lang presented some quirky characters in her book. Their personalities were often shown through their words: “I thought truffles were made of chocolate,” said the commis chef.”
“His friend was not, to put it lightly, an animal person. When pressed by, say, a young child to name his favorite animal, his usual reply was ‘beef’.” One neighbor explained that she heard an argument from a neighbor’s home. “Terrible the way sound carries through these walls. Had to turn the telly right down, I did.” “He’d gone through the fridge too, sorting the contents into three shelves: expiring food, expired food, and food that PC Lucy was presumably keeping for sentimental value, given the far-gone use-by dates.”
The relationships between people was given in a way that is quite familiar but not usually so well-expressed: “Perhaps it was because they both loved to talk and rarely listened to what the other person was saying.” “A low fire crackled in the hearth, the only light source in the shadow-filled room. Two high-backed chairs faced the fireplace, at an angle suggesting that their occupants were rather more interested in the flames than each other’s face.
“A heated discussion was well underway.”
And the story told quite a bit about truffles and how they are located: “People think it’s all about eyes to the ground, but it’s actually all about the trees. This wood is like an old friend. Know your trees, and you’ll know your mushrooms.”
CHEF MAURICE AND A SPOT OF TRUFFLE was a quick, cozy read that has wit and information. The chef uses many French phrases that were not translated but the responses let the reader know what they probably mean.
This book was a free Amazon download.

Enjoyed second book and Hamilton has become officially a pet characters are very likable in this Chef Maurice wine mystery.

First in this series entertaining, fun read, liked characters and setting.

This second installment in the Chef Maurice Mystery series was absolutely wonderful. Like a fine wine, it seems this series will keep getting better with age.

Ms. Lang certainly knows how to pen a wonderful story that draws the reader in. Her talent for writing a first rate mystery shows in this well plotted tale that kept me guessing right until the end.

Author J.A. Lang has created quite a character with Chef Maurice. He can be a little cranky but you can’t help but like him. His character reminds me of a blend of Poirot and Columbo. And the style in which the author writes brings to mind Golden Age mysteries such as those by Agatha Christie mixed with a current feel.

CHEF MAURICE AND THE WRATH OF GRAPES is a delightful bouquet that will fill your senses!

I do like the occasional cosy and found this first in the Chef Maurice series a light-hearted and entertaining read. Chef Maurice, long time resident of the Cotswolds, is a larger than life character, who loves to try new dishes. When his local supplier of mushrooms and herbs goes missing, Maurice's curiosity is piqued when he finds thousands of pounds worth of truffles in Ollie's refrigerator.

Maurice is convinced that Ollie has actually found a local but hitherto unknown cache of rare truffles, but looking for them gets Chef Maurice into trouble he hadn't bargained for. At the same time there is a mystery or two to be solved.

The main characters in this story are humourously and well drawn. Recommended if you enjoy the occasional cosy.

It’s been some time since I’ve read a book quite like CHEF MAURICE AND A SPOT OF TRUFFLE. This book doesn’t fall in step with today’s cozy mysteries. It’s more in line with traditional British mysteries which makes since because author J. A. Lang is British and she captures the genre perfectly.

This mystery was so intriguing and had an original concept. It was an enjoyable read that flew by too fast. Ms. Lang has a very fluid writing style that drew me in and made me want to keep reading.

Chef Maurice, owner and head chef of Le Cochon Rouge, is quite a character. Think Hercule Poirot, Columbo, and a robust French chef all rolled into one. There were many times his scenes had me laughing out loud. I can imagine knowing someone like him would be both fascinating, frustrating, and exhausting, but you would still have the utmost respect in him.

The end of the book, the reveal, brought images of scenes from an Agatha Christie novel. The setting, delivery, and accusation were all done with the same Christie flare.

I enjoyed CHEF MAURICE AND A SPOT OF TRUFFLE immensely and look forward to more adventures with Chef Maurice.

4 STARS

It makes me want to go hunt for truffles but I probably find the deadly mushrooms instead. This Chef Maurice character makes me laugh, hungry and want to own a pig. I like him. I even went and got the prequel Chef Marurice and the Rather Fishy Tale.

Chef Maurice owns Le Cochon Rouge a restraint in the Cotswolds. He is always eating. He is curious or plain snoop and passionate about food.
He is out of mushrooms. His supplier of wild herb and mushrooms has missed his delivery. He hears that he has something new to bring makes him go to his house. He gets caught going in and taking his order out of the fridge.

food critic Arthur Wordington-Smythe is Maurice good friend. He is married. They found a special truffle in his fridge and are determined to find his source. It is a rare truffle.

The setting for the book is Cotswolds village, England. We learn a lot about mushrooms and truffles.

Maurice finds a pig that likes truffles and wants to use him. He really does not like animals but changes.

There are a lot of characters that I do like and want to see more of them.

I was given this ebook to read and in return agreed to give a honest review and be part of Chef Maurice and a Spot of Truffle.

Chef Maurice and a Spot of Truffle by J.A. Lang is a humorous British cozy mystery. It is the first full length book in the series. There is a cute short story titled Chef Maurice and the Rather Fishy Tale that introduces you to the characters and setting. Chef Maurice Manchot is the owner of Le Cochon Rouge restaurant and is obsessed with food. Arthur Wordington-Smythe, food critic for local paper and Chef Maurice’s good friend. Chef Maurice has not received his mushroom delivery and finds out that Ollie is missing.

Ollie Meadows is a wild herb and mushroom forager. Chef Maurice tries to liberate his mushrooms from Ollie’s house (at night) and is attacked. Someone was already inside Ollie’s house. Arthur and Chef Maurice look around and find a bag of beautiful Alba white truffles. These truffles, though, are locally sourced and not from Italy. They are worth a fortune. This sets the duo off to find the truffle patch and Ollie.

Chef Maurice first goes looking for a truffle dog at the local shelter. He ends up with a cute micro pig named Hamilton. When they take Hamilton out to look for truffles, Hamilton finds the body of Ollie Meadows in a gully. Ollie was up to something and food eating duo do not think it was just truffles. Chef Maurice and Arthur armed with food and alcohol set out to find Ollie’s killer.

At the same time there is romance in the air. PC Lucy Gavistone is the local constabulary. She is investigating the murder of Ollie Meadows while trying to keep the locals from contaminating the crime scenes and taking off with evidence. Patrick, Chef Maurice’s sous chef is interested in Lucy and asks her out on a date. Lucy agrees to a date but suggests that she cook (the panicked). The evening does not end well for Lucy, but provides a vital clue into how Ollie was making his money.

I give Chef Maurice and a Spot of Truffle 4 out of 5 stars. It is a humorous story with a little romance and a mystery that is very easy to solve.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Chef Maurice and the Rather Fishy Tale (A Chef Maurice Mystery) by J.A. Lang is a rather quirky British cozy mystery. It is a short story (can be read in about thirty minutes) about Chef Maurice, owner of Le Cochon Rouge. In his daily shipment of fish from Bert Soundman, the new supplier he finds a small wooden fish. Engraved on fish is a message for help. Chef Maurice’s old supplier, Mr. Mersters retired without any notice. Chef Maurice and Arthur Wordington-Smythe (friend and food critic) set out to investigate. Arthur is hoping to get a story out of the investigation. He has been forced into writing other types of stories recently in order to earn his paycheck.

It is a cute story but the mystery is very easy to solve. I give Chef Maurice and the Rather Fishy Tale 3 out of 5 stars. I liked it, but I did not love it.