When a contest turns deadly…

Synopsis

The competition is fierce….

Desperate to try and rebuild the reputation of Hopgood Hall, owners Alexi Ellis and Cheryl and Drew Hopgood agree to host a realty TV baking show, spearheaded by their arrogant but enigmatic head chef Marcel Gasquet. Hopefully the ratings will bring in bookings to the struggling hotel and Cosmo, Alexi’s antisocial feral cat, is hoping to get a starring role too!

The temperature is high…

Fiery and hot-headed, Marcel’s antics makes for brilliant television, but off-screen trouble is brewing. One of the contestants, femme fatale Juliette Hammond, makes it clear that she will do anything to secure the winning prize – even if it means sweetening up the prima donna chef.

The results are deadly!

So when Juliette is found dead, all eyes turn to Marcel. Has his fiery French temper got the better of him or has someone else fallen victim to Juliette’s devious ways?

With the reputation of the hotel in tatters and Marcel’s liberty on the line, Alexi needs answers and fast. And the only person she can turn to for help is her old friend and private eye Jack Maddox. Jack’s working his own case, but he can’t refuse Alexi and he knows more than anyone that this murder could cost them everything!

My review

Alexi Ellis is determinate, even on the verge of desperate to rebuild the reputation of Hopgood Hall, now that she owns the place with her friends Cheryl and  Drew Hopgood. So they agree to be hosting a reality TV baking show, with amazing yet arrogant head chef Marcel Gasquet. They have their fingers crossed that the show will get high ratings, and also a lot of new bookings, especially as Alexi’s feral cat Cosmo is becoming a show’s favourite too!
The contestants of the show couldn’t be more different, and one of them, Juliette, is making it even bluntly cleat that she would do anything to end up victorious.
But when Juliette is found dead, and all fingers seem to point towards Marcel, it’s up to Alexi to find all the answers and clear Marcel’s name. And is there someone better to help her out than Jack Maddox? Especially as there is still some unfinished business between him and Alexi… 

I was very eager to read this next story in the series, as I was hoping for some nice developments for Alexi and Jack.
And of course, even if murder is something horrible, how a next murder would be solved by this great duo. Oh, and I wanted more Cosmo too! 😊 

Initially I was a bit disappointed reading that Alexi and Jack weren’t the happy couple I expected them to be. But on the other hand, well, we have this book for things to develop in the right way (hopefully!). 

I absolutely liked the combination the author made of having a reality TV baking show, with a murder mystery.
We all know that TV reality shows are always a bit premeditated and even have more drama backstage than in front of the cameras.
And we also know that there is always one contestant who would do anything to be the winner at the end. 

So while even if Juliette doesn’t make the best first impression, looking down at people, making them feel inferior and even parading around with her looks, well, murdered isn’t how I wanted her to end up. 

And then a great whodunit starts… because even if everything points towards Marcel, we know that despite his arrogance he isn’t a murderer.
The more I was reading, the more I was reading more into things, perhaps even making me more paranoid that I should.
The author manages perfectly to make you doubt over every character/ contestant. And she even manages to link two separate mysteries without making it seem impossible and implausible. 

Having Alexi and Jack joining forces again, was great to read, as they complement each other, not only with the sleuthing! Yet, their romance (or lack of it) is not the main attraction of this story, however a great addition! 

This story made me have my own suspects, to only have them discarded when once again it appeared I was thinking in the wrong direction.
And perhaps, when the truth truly came out, I was a tiny bit disappointed as there wouldn’t to be a great scheme behind it all…
But that didn’t take away I truly enjoyed reading this sleuthing adventure, with some great developments for our main characters and a Cosmo that for sure stole the show!