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

Funny, and at times unexpectedly moving, this thoroughly enjoyable murder mystery is packed with interesting recipe ideas, fascinating culinary facts and some jolly useful cooking hacks

With a delightful cast of characters, and seasoned with plenty of acerbic wit, this culinary cosy crime debut is a moreish treat.

Our new obsession. A delicious, twisty novel!

This fun cosy crime novel is deliciously good!

A stylish cosy crime novel &hellip; Colourful, entertaining and full of social observations, the account of Paul&rsquo;s odyssey also has some moments of genuine emotion

(Orlando's) talent for British mystery is every bit as stellar as his culinary prowess.

Delicious fun! Knife Skills for Beginners is both intriguing and mouth-watering, starring a charming hero you’ll want as your best friend.

A deliciously dark slice of murder and mystery. Funny and fun, frightening and charming.

Knife Skills for Beginners is a joy, packed full of fabulous culinary tips and recipes you'll want to make, alongside a decent dollop of murder and mystery.

Orlando Murrin’s personality is sprinkled throughout the pages of his debut, Knife Skills for Beginners. It’s warm, it’s humorous, it’s different from anything I’ve read before. If you’re into cosy crime, this one is irresistible.

A lethally delicious soufflé of a crime novel - light and witty at first taste, but with rich, dark undertones. I loved the combination of crime and cookery - and how Orlando uses the one to enrich the other (and vice versa). I can see this developing into a wonderful series with memorable recurring characters.

I absolutely loved Knife Skills for Beginners and read it in two days flat. I found Orlando’s style forensic and precise, yet at the same time deeply perceptive... the characters were an expertly crafted blend of the sweet and dark, like the perfect salted flapjack. If Ruth Rendell had teamed up with Delia Smith they’d have produced something like this.

Enjoyably readable, great characters, and cooking recipes as well. Who could ask for more?

Faith Martin, million-copy bestselling author

Dazzlingly sharp with a wit that sparkles off the page. Orlando Murrin’s Knife Skills for Beginners is a dish to be savoured and re-ordered again and again.

A clever, elegant and unexpectedly scary story. And foodies will love it - the recipes are great.

Fresh, engrossing and deliciously irreverent, Orlando Murrin's debut blends murder, intrigue, larger-than-life characters and mouth-watering recipes in a literary feast for the senses. Fun and utterly DELICIOUS!

If Agatha Christie were to go on Masterchef, this novel would be the result. A deliciously fun murder mystery - I loved it.

Knife Skills for Beginners is a real treat, as sharp as the best kitchen knife with a wonderfully acerbic protagonist who I'd be very happy to spend more time with. It has all the ingredients of the best cosy crime.

In the kitchen with the meat cleaver is my favourite kind of murder and Orlando Murrin’s debut does not disappoint. A protagonist in over his head, a cast of characters who aren’t what they seem and the perfect London cooking school setting all make for a murderous culinary triumph.

If you love food, a juicy murder and a rollicking read, Orlando Murrin serves up the perfect recipe

William Sitwell, food writer and restaurant critic

A triumph!! Intriguing, clever, funny - a real page-turner.

A tasty opener with more to come we hope.

An intriguing and murderous trip into the world of the professional chef. Most enjoyable and highly recommended.

If you like your cosy crime with a a large dose of humour and a generous portion of culinary flair, this is the book for you. I can’t wait to see what Paul (and Orlando!) does next. And who doesn’t love a crime novel with a handful of delicious recipes thrown in?

Bridget Walsh, author of The Tumbling Girl

A delicious treat with a sweet filling of murder and mystery. I’ll definitely be back for seconds!

Antony Johnston, author of The Dog Sitter Detective

A joy to read due to its rather lovely setting and cast of characters.

Billed as Masterchef meets The Thursday Murder Club – a pretty appealing pairing!

Imagine a crime caper in a cookery school, peppered with recipes, cheffy tips… and murder… it was a treat to read.

This contemporary crime story is a delicious confection…a fabulous feast of a whodunnit.

**SHORTLISTED FOR THE VAL McDERMID DEBUT AWARD 2024** 
 
Richard Osman meets MasterChef. In this cookery school, murder is on the menu... 
 
'Delicious fun!' Tess Gerritsen 
 
'Knife Skills for Beginners is a joy.' S. J. Bennett 
 
‘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 
 
‘Dazzlingly sharp with a wit that sparkles off the page.' Jane Corry 
 
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.

Orlando Murrin

Worse things happen at sea… 
 
Paul Delamare has been roped into accompanying his old friend on a luxury cruise aboard the magnificent superyacht Maldemer. It’s all plain sailing until his friend’s priceless necklace is stolen, and everyone falls under suspicion. 
 
As Paul races to catch the thief, the ship begins to drift off-course, veering into the storm-lashed mid-Atlantic. Then one of the passengers is found dead in mysterious circumstances, in a pool of coffee and surrounded by cake crumbs. 
 
It’s all hands on deck to catch the killer, but Paul soon discovers guests and crew are harbouring deadly secrets. And if he can’t get to the bottom of the mystery soon, he’ll be sleeping with the fishes.

Orlando Murrin

Murder Below Deck

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