Chef Maurice sat at the kitchen table of Le Cochon Rouge, his little French restaurant in Cotswold village of Beakley, looking down at the piece of paper in front of him. At the top, he’d written: ‘A Day in the Life of . . .’
He frowned, causing his large moustache to bristle. “Patrick!”
“Oui, chef?” Patrick, his trusty sous chef, stuck his head out of the walk-in fridge, where he’d been doing the stocktake of the restaurant’s cheese supply.
“C’est impossible! What is it they expect me to write? A day in the life of a chef, it is most simple. We receive our deliveries. We make the preparations. We cook. The readers, they wish to hear this? Non, it cannot be.”
“I think, chef, the newspaper lady wanted you to write about one day in particular. You know … the day when all that business with Ollie Meadows started?”
“Ah. It is like that, I see.”
It never ceased to amaze him how much trouble one dead body could cause. The local press, used to covering country fairs and the occasional missing tabby, had been falling over themselves to interview him after they’d got wind of his daring, if not particularly orthodox, contribution to the solving of the Meadows murder case.
“But why does Arthur not write this himself? He was there also. And he is a writer.” Arthur Wordington-Smythe, Chef Maurice’s best friend and food critic for the England Observer, had in fact been the one to press this tricky compositional exercise onto his friend.
“I think they wanted to hear it in your own words, chef. It’s not that hard, surely? Just start at the beginning.”
“Hmph. Very well.” Chef Maurice tapped the end of his pen against his nose, took another gulp of his morning strong black coffee, and consoled himself that at least Arthur’s editor had promised to accompany the article with a full double-page spread of Le Cochon Rouge, in all its honey-coloured Cotswold stone glory.
There was nothing, he knew, that drew the English out into the countryside faster than good food served under a pretty thatched roof.
He uncapped his pen.
It all began, he wrote, with some labour, with a box of missing mushrooms. . .
You can read more about Chef Maurice in Chef Maurice and a Spot of Truffle, the first book in the NEW “Chef Maurice” culinary mystery series, published by Purple Panda Press.
GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment by 12 a.m. eastern on June 19 for the chance to win either a print or an e-book copy of CHEF MAURICE AND A SPOT OF TRUFFLE–winner’s choice. The print giveaway is open to U.S. and U.K residents only. The e-book giveaway is open to everyone. Winner will be notified within 48 hours after giveaway closes and you will have three days to respond after being contacted or another winner will be selected. Make sure to check your SPAM folder.
Meet the author
J.A. Lang is a British mystery author. She lives in Oxford, England, with her husband, an excessive number of cookbooks, and a sourdough starter named Bob. To keep up to date with new releases, please hop over to www.jalang.net to sign up for the reader newsletter.
Dru, I would love to have the opportunity to read this. Thank you for the chance to win! It has been in my Kindle wishlist for a while. And you know just what to say to make it even more inviting! jeaniedannheim ( at ) ymail ( dot ) com
You had me at Cotswold village. I have loved all my yearly trips to England. I hope to go over again in October. In the meantime, I’d settle for a literary journey with Chef Maurice.
Chef Maurice and a Spot of Truffle sounds like a fun book. I have it on my TBR list. Thank you for the giveaway.
myrifraf(at)gmail(dot)com
Summer life is full of cozies! Would like to try this one.
I read “Cotswold” and I have to read this; thanks for the chance.
Sounds like an interesting read. Thank you for the opportunity to enter this contest.
Sounds like a fun read
Sounds great! Thanks for the giveaway!
Sound delightful! Can’t wait to read the book!
I used to live with a sourdough named Phred. I must have this book!
This is a new series and author to me. It sounds as if it will be a great read. Thanks Dru for the intoduction. robeader53@yahoo.com
This seems like a refreshing new look at a type of cozy mystery that all food enthusiasts (guilty) will devour. I can’t wait to read it. 🙂 Thanks Dru for selecting this book and the opportunity to win a copy! Thanks to J.A. as well!
Different setting – enjoy stories from other countries.
thanks for the chance.
I will just say that this book is delightful. I have the e-book. I look forward to this series going forward!
Sounds charming.
this book sounds like a very good read, would love to win
Thanks for this delightful book.
Oh boy! A new series! Thank you for a chance to win – sounds like it will be a good series! Thanks for the opportunity!
How awesome…this looks like a really cute book to read….never read about a cute pig before….always only read about dogs and cats! I always get excited when reading a first in the series book knowing there will be more exciting books to follow. Looking forward to reading this one….sure would love to win it!!!!! Thanks so much for the chance!!!!
Tres bien!
The chef is great fun to read about.
With Maurice being a family name in my husband’s family, I took note of this title early on and just know that it is meant to be as one of my new series. Sounds very funny and I am looking forward to getting it. Thank you for the chance to win a copy of book 1, Dru Ann.
Sincerely,
Cynthia
A chef and a body? What an interesting combination.
You keep tempting me with new authors. Since I love to cook I can’t see how I missed this one. It sounds like a great series, and I thank you for the opportunity to win!
I would love to read this.
This sounds like a fun read.
Love the cover. Looks great.
Sounds like fun
Thank you for the giveaway opportunity!
Oh yes, please!!!!
& I love the cover!!!
Thank you for the giveaway….
Murder, mushrooms and mystery–what’s not to like? sounds like a great read.
Love reading a chef series..Food..yummy
A new series to me, sounds like fun, and I just love that cover! Thanks for the giveaway.
Sounds yummy.
Sounds like a fun series.
Great contest rhanks
Contest is closed.