When I picked up Mrs Sidhu’s “Dead and Scone” by Suk Pannu, I had no idea that Mrs Sidhu was already a well-established character with her own BBC radio and TV series. This revelation came as a surprise, and I wonder if my initial impressions of the book were influenced by this lack of background knowledge. The story seemed to start abruptly, not giving me enough time to get acquainted with Mrs Sidhu, which might have been less jarring had I been familiar with her previous adventures.
Despite this, “Dead and Scone” proved to be a quick, entertaining, and cosy read, albeit with a darker undertone. The plot revolves around a luxury wellness retreat where Mrs Sidhu, a caterer and amateur sleuth, finds herself embroiled in a murder mystery. The setting is intriguing, and the story is peppered with twists and red herrings that keep the reader guessing.
One of the book’s strengths is its clever plot. The murder mystery is well-crafted, and the luxury wellness retreat provides a unique backdrop for the unfolding drama. However, I felt that the change of scene and pace might have been better suited for a TV adaptation rather than a novel. The narrative sometimes felt more like a script, which isn’t surprising given Mrs Sidhu’s origins in radio and television.
I was particularly excited about the culinary aspect of the story, expecting baking to play a significant role. However, this element was not as prominent as I had hoped. While Mrs Sidhu’s catering business is central to the plot, the culinary details were somewhat overshadowed by the murder mystery.
The book features a large cast of supporting characters, but unfortunately, many of them are not fully developed. This made it challenging to connect with them and follow their motivations. However, there were moments of humour that stood out.
The dialogue in “Dead and Scone” is well-written and engaging, but the overall writing style felt choppy at times. This contributed to a sense of disconnection from the story. As someone who enjoys a smooth, flowing narrative, this was a bit of a drawback for me.
I really wanted to love this book, especially since I’m on the lookout for a culinary cosy mystery series to get hooked on. While “Dead and Scone” has its merits, I found myself wanting more in terms of character development, humour, and depth. Mrs Sidhu is a fascinating character with a lot of potential, but I felt that this book didn’t fully showcase her charm and wit.
Mrs Sidhu’s “Dead and Scone” is a mixed bag. It’s a quick and entertaining read with a clever plot and moments of humour, but it falls short in character development and narrative flow. If you’re a fan of the Mrs Sidhu radio or TV series, you might enjoy this book more than I did. For those new to the franchise, like myself, it might be worth exploring Mrs Sidhu’s other adventures to get a better sense of her character before diving into this novel.
Thank you to Exclusive Books for this gifted copy.
About this book: Exclusive Books – Mrs Sidhu’s “Dead and Scone”
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About the author: https://kitsonpress.co.uk/client/suk-pannu/
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