# Death and Croissants

By Ian Moore · Follet Valley Mysteries, book 1

Profile: https://hahafiction.com/books/death-and-croissants-17adc12c/

Richard Ainsworth wants a quiet life running his Loire Valley B&B. A guest vanishes, leaving a bloody handprint, and another guest, Valérie, insists they investigate. The killing of Richard’s hen Ava Gardner makes the affair much harder for him to ignore.

## What makes it funny?

Richard names his hens after film stars, then finds himself protesting about a life increasingly occupied by Mafia threats involving poultry. His idea of a manageable problem differs sharply from Valérie’s.

### The comedy at work

Richard keeps trying to avoid confrontation while Valérie pushes ahead. His attachment to vintage films and his hens gives him plenty to worry about besides the missing guest, with a perpetually offended housekeeper adding further friction.

### Try this if…

A French B&B and a reluctant English investigator frame the dry humor. The appeal lies strongly in the company and Richard’s resistance to being dragged into danger.

### Good to know

A hen dies in the setup. Publishers Weekly also notes that the book spends less time on actual investigation than dedicated puzzle readers might expect.

## What to expect

- Genre: Mystery
- On the shelf: Amateur sleuth · Cozy mystery
- Kind of humor: Dry wit · Situational comedy
- Format: Novel
- Length: 256 pages
- Published: 2021

## A few distinguishing details

- A B&B owner with film-star hens gets drawn into a disappearance

## Sources & further reading

- Publisher: [Death and Croissants by Ian Moore at Sourcebooks](https://www.sourcebooks.com/9781728270555-death-and-croissants-tp.html)
- Review: [Sandy’s Book a Day review and brief excerpt](https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/2021/07/12/death-and-croissants-by-ian-moore)
- Book information: [Fantastic Fiction bibliography](https://www.fantasticfiction.com/m/ian-moore/death-and-croissants.htm)
- Publisher: [US publisher](https://www.sourcebooks.com/9781728270555-death-and-croissants-tp.html)
- Review: [Publishers Weekly review](https://www.publishersweekly.com/9781728270555)
- Publisher: [Farrago publisher](https://farragobooks.com/book/death-and-croissants)