Last Updated on April 22, 2026
Before I get stuck into what Death and Fromage is all about, I should say that this is the second book in the series by Ian Moore.
I, however, has not read the first one, Death and Croissants, which normally doesn’t matter. In this case though I was a little lost in the beginning, like I was supposed to know who everybody was.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s a minor issue and, if I’m being honest, I usually don’t like it when authors have to constantly repeat the character backgrounds in every book simply to catch up the readers who joined a series six books in!
So, now I find myself complaining that the author didn’t do what I normally complain about. And yes, I see the irony!
That aside, it doesn’t take long to work out the whose who but if you don’t already know, let me catch you up.
Meet The Follet Valley Characters
So this series is called the Follet Valley Mysteries and in Death and Fromage the main players are:
Richard Ainsworth:
Richard is the main guy and is a middle-aged English expat who runs a B&B in the Vallée de Follet, France.
Originally he bought the B&B with his wife Clare, but she found life there too boring and returned to England, leaving Richard in limbo.
He’s a former film scholar who prefers the slow pace of the French countryside and the company of his beloved hens and given his hesitation to get involved in pretty much anything, becomes the unconventional hero of the story.
Valérie d’Orçay:
Valérie is a beautiful, brave, and an exceedingly competent bounty hunter. She also happens to be a a returning guest at Richard’s B&B.
She’s the one who initiates the investigation and often takes the lead in their sleuthing activities as Richard would prefer to sit at home and drink wine in the peace and quiet.
Henri LaPierre:
Henri is the local commissaire who circles around Richard and the investigation.
Clare:
She is Richard’s estranged wife, who often steamrolls Richard to get what she wants. And she is non too please about his budding relationship and partnership with Valerie!
Death and Fromage also features a cast of colorful secondary characters, including feuding Michelin-starred chefs and quirky locals, who all add a certain level charm and fun to the story.
The Plot
Richard is enjoying a quiet life running his bed-and-breakfast. However, his tranquility is shattered when a culinary scandal erupts in the nearby town of Saint-Sauver.
The town’s most famous restaurant loses a coveted Michelin star, plunging the local community into shock.
Amidst the chaos, tragedy strikes. The area’s leading goat cheese supplier is found dead, apparently having drowned himself in one of his own pasteurization tanks.
This shocking event sets the stage for the mystery that Richard and Valérie d’Orçay, must unravel.
Valérie is not convinced that the cheese supplier’s death was a suicide. Despite Richard’s initial reluctance, he soon finds himself drawn into the investigation.
As the duo dig deeper, they uncover a web of secrets, rivalries, and possible motives that suggest there might be more to this death than meets the eye.
The plot thickens as they navigate the world of high-stakes gastronomy, Michelin star ratings, and local cheese production.
They must contend with feuding chefs, nasty reviews, and a possible decades-old betrayal that goes beyond mere cheese.
As the bodies pile up, the unlikely twosome finds themselves racing against time to solve the mystery before they become the next victims.
Worth a Read??
Once I got passed the point of figuring out who everyone was, I really started to enjoy Death and Fromage.
It brilliantly captures the essence of a small town and the fact that it is in beautiful France makes it even more appealing.
Ian Moore has a good ability to create characters that are very funny, often without meaning to be. And while I get it that Richard is a more laid back guy who doesn’t really want to get dragged into crime solving, I did wish he would stand up for himself a little bit more.
That said, his relationship with Clare and subsequently Valerie, do evolve and we leave the book with Richard on more solid footing.
This is great as I don’t know if I could read the rest of the series with him just bumbling around being overwhelmed by the women in his life.
Depending on your sense of humor you’re either going to think is a riotous laugh or not. I’m on the fence.
Some of the comedy falls a little flat and there are far too many ‘quirky’ characters to keep track of, but overall it is a decent cozy mystery, with plenty of twists and turns.
In the end it’s the dynamic between Richard and Valerie that will keep me coming back for more.
Here’s hoping Ian Moore trims back the irrelevant B&B guest antics and focuses a little more on constructing a more creative mystery!
Follow On Books
As mentioned earlier, Death and Fromage is the second book in Ian Moore’s Follet Valley Mystery series.
The series began with Death and Croissants, published in 2021, which introduced us to Richard Ainsworth and his reluctant foray into amateur sleuthing.
The success of the first two books has led to a third installment, Death at the Chateau, released in 2023.
He then published Death in le Jardin in 2024 where Richard’s housekeeper, Madame Tablier, is accused of murder.
Fans will be delighted to hear that a fifth book in the series is due out in 2025 so keep your eyes peeled for Death and Boules when it gets released (Hardback) on June 5th 2025.
