The Golden Spoon by Jesse Maxwell

 This was an enjoyable Agatha-Christie style mystery involving a group of people who go to Grafton Manor, a suitably old mansion in the country, to enter a TV baking competition, and find themselves caught up in a murder. There is no detective, but the characters are diverse and interesting. They include young and vulnerable Hannah, anxious to leave her boring life working in a diner, Lottie, who has a secret that haunts her, bored millionaire Pradyumna and Stella, a disillusioned journalist. Hard-headed Betsy runs the competition. The story is told from the point of view of each of the characters, and there are so many, I found it a bit confusing.

The author increases the tension well, and there is a final dramatic twist at the end. I thought that this was a very good first novel.

I received this free ebook from Edelweiss.plus in return for an honest review.