Book Review: Murder on the Menu by Katie Marsh

I’m so happy to be welcoming Katie Marsh back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, Murder on the Menu. 

Since Amber started the Bad Girls’ Detective Agency, she’s been feeling the pressure. So – when she and her best friends win a trip to a new luxury castle retreat on a remote island – she hopes it will be a chance to relax in style.

The girls are all excited to experience world-famous chef Valerie la Fontaine’s tasting menu.

But none of them expect there to be another dish being served that weekend: revenge. And when Valerie is found dead inside a locked room in a tower, the Bad Girls know this is a case that only they can solve…

Hilarious and gripping mystery – perfect for fans of The Thursday Murder Club, The Traitors, and How to Kill Men and Get Away With It.

*****

The ladies from the Bad Girls Detective Agency are off on a weekend away. They are due to spend the weekend in a castle with food provided by a famous chef.

However, when someone is found dead, it becomes a very different type of getaway. Can Amber, Clio and Jeanie find the killer before someone else dies?

I enjoyed the previous novel in this series, Murder on the Dance floor, so I was excited to be invited onto the blog tour for book three, Murder on the Menu.

This is such a wonderful example of cozy crime. A book where I started reading and got to the end before realising that I’d read it in one sitting. I was just completely immersed.

I love these ladies. They are all different but complement each other. Amber has the weight of the world on her shoulders, Jeanie has responsibilities to both her family and her friend. Clio brings the lightness. They make a brilliant team.

The supporting characters are all interesting and each one of them could be good or bad. I couldn’t work who was which.

The setting adds a lot to the story. It felt cut off and scary. It gave me a The Traitors castle in a thunder storm where I am on my own and scared vibe.

The plot unfolds well and kept me guessing all the way through. I was on the edge of my seat. The tension builds so well and there’s a huge helping of plot twists.

There’s so much more I can say but that would give things away and I am hoping you discover this book for yourself. Although this is book three, it can be read as a standalone so don’t worry. I recommend the series as a whole though.

Murder on the Menu is full of intrigue, suspense and teamwork. There were also some really emotional moments and laugh out loud lines. Oh, and there’s also a great mystery. I loved it and hope we get book four soon. There is a book four…right?

About Katie Marsh –

Katie Marsh wrote five bestselling, uplifting women’s fiction novels before turning to cosy crime for Boldwood.

Previously published by Hodder, the first in her new crime series  How Not To Murder Your Ex, following the fortunes of the Bad Girls Detective Agency, was published in December 2023.

The latest novel in the series, Murder on the Menu was released by Boldwood Books on 18th January 2025. Click to buy on Amazon and Waterstones.

Say hello to Katie via Facebook, Instagram and Bookbub. Click here to sign up to her newsletter. 

by

Laura

I’m Laura. I started Novel Kicks in 2009. I wanted a place to post my writing as well as give other writers like me the opportunity to do the same. There is also a monthly book club, a writing room which features writing prompts, book reviews, competitions, author interviews and guest posts.

I grew up by the sea (my favourite place in the world) and I currently live in Hampshire. I am married to Chris, have a cat named Buddy and I would love to be a writer. I’m trying to write the novel I’ve talked so much about writing if only I could stop pressing delete. I’ve loved writing since creative writing classes in primary school. I have always wanted to see my teacher Miss Sayers again and thank her for the encouragement. When not trying to write the novel or writing snippets of stories on anything I can get my hands on, I love reading, dancing like a loon and singing to myself very badly. My current obsession is Once Upon a Time and I would be happy to live with magic in the enchanted forest surrounded by all those wonderful stories provided that world also included Harry Potter. I love reading chick lit. contemporary fiction and novels with mystery.