Knife Skills for Beginners
**SHORTLISTED FOR THE VAL McDERMID DEBUT AWARD 2024**
Richard Osman meets MasterChef in this gripping cosy murder mystery. In this cookery school, murder is on the menu...
'If Agatha Christie were to go on Masterchef, this novel would be the result.' Clare Pooley
'Delicious fun!' Tess Gerritsen
A recipe for disaster.
When chef Paul Delamare takes a job teaching at an exclusive residential cookery school in Belgravia, the only thing he expects his students to murder is his taste buds. But on the first night, the unthinkable happens: someone turns up dead...
The school rests on a knife-edge.
The police are convinced Paul is the culprit. After all, he’s good with a blade, was first on the scene – and everyone knows it doesn’t take much to push a chef over the edge. To prove his innocence, he must find the killer. Could it be one of his students? Or the owner of the school – a woman with secrets and a murky past?
It all boils down to murder.
If Paul can’t solve the mystery fast – as well as teach his students how to make a perfect hollandaise sauce – he’ll be next to get the chop.
Readers love Knife Skills for Beginners!
‘A deliciously dark slice of murder and mystery.’ Chris Whitaker
'If Ruth Rendell had teamed up with Delia Smith they’d have produced something like this.’ J. M. Hall
‘The perfect blend of The Great British Bake Off and Agatha Christie.’ ***** Reader Review
‘A fun mystery full of quirks and fun characters that will leave you guessing.’ ***** Reader Review
‘A welcome addition to the cosy crime genre.’ ***** Reader Review
‘Sharp, incisive, cutting - and that’s just the prose!’ ***** Reader Review
After being flung into the culinary limelight as a semi-finalist on Masterchef, Orlando Murrin edited Woman and Home, BBC Good Food and founded Olive magazine; then he switched track to become a chef-hotelier in SW France and Somerset.
He has written six cookbooks and received an Outstanding Achievement Award from the Guild of Food Writers, its highest accolade. A popular guest on TV and radio, and food and literary festivals, he is also a regular podcaster and podcast host.
From his grandfather, a Met detective who rose to become a crack MI5 interrogator, he inherited a fascination with crime and mystery. He lives in domestic bliss in Exeter, Devon, and has written two culinary crime novels: Knife Skills For Beginners (shortlisted for the McDermid Debut and Crime Fiction Lover Debut Awards) and Murder Below Deck.
You can find Orlando on Facebook and Instagram @orlandomurrinauthor, and @orlandomurrin.bsky.social on BlueSky. His website is www.orlandomurrin.com.