Book Review: Chef Maurice and the Bunny-Boiler Bake Off by J.A. Lang

From the publisher: Spring has sprung, the bunting is up, and for the residents of the little Cotswold village of Beakley, this can only mean one thing: it’s time for the Beakley Spring Fayre.

Drawing the crowds this year is stiletto-strutting celebrity chef Miranda Matthews, a woman for whom making enemies is a piece of (shop-bought) cake. And one of them is lurking around the Fayre, ready to make sure Miranda hangs up her apron—for good.

Faced with a murderer with a possible penchant for top(ping) chefs, Chef Maurice must sift through the clues and weigh up the suspects—not to mention contending with a sous-chef with mummy issues, a food critic on a diet, and a bulletproof pudding—as he finds himself on the trail of a killer who’s not cooking by the rules…

J.A. Lang has perfected the art of the classic cozy with her brilliant Chef Maurice mysteries. This series reminds me of the hysterical, madcap adventures of Agatha Raisin and just seems to get better with each new release.

Book 3, Chef Maurice and the Bunny-Boiler Bake Off, takes place in the spring with preparations underway for the Beakley Spring Fayre. Chef Maurice is horrified that not only has he not been asked to judge the Great Beakley Bake Off, but he's lost his seat to celebrity chef Miranda Matthews, who he deems completely unfit and unworthy of the admiration she receives. Apparently someone else agrees with him because before long Miranda is found dead. Concerned that someone is out to bump off chefs, Maurice takes it upon himself to solve the crime, but that's not all he has to deal with! His sous chef Patrick's mother is in town and attempting to lure him away to another restaurant, not to mention the havoc that this dilemma is having on Patrick's budding romance with PC Lucy. (The way those two deal with issues in their relationship is a riot!)

In addition to all of the fun characters we've come to know and love in this series, Hamilton the micropig makes a return appearance, and thankfully is *not* the star of the Fayre's hog roast (although it may have caused the poor little dear to be permanently scarred).

Go on holiday to the Cotswolds area of England through the pages of this delightful book, but make sure you steer clear of potential suspects dressed up in bunny costumes!