Review: Earthly Delights (Corinna Chapman, #1)
Gaby Meares
We sadly lost Kerry Greenwood recently, and as I have read many Phryne Fisher mysteries, I thought I would explore her other series about Corinna Chapman, baker and reluctant investigator.
This series is set in contemporary Melbourne, in an area that has a more than passing resemblance to Brunswick. Corinna has her own bakery, and lives in an art deco apartment block above. Her neighbours are an eclectic mix of young and old eccentrics. I would love to live in one of these apartments - each has a unique character (both the apartment and the resident!).
Corinna’s safe world starts to crumble: threatening notes are delivered and a junkie almost dies on her back doorstep. However, a mysterious man with beautiful eyes appears to help, and a homeless boy becomes an unexpected baker’s assistant.
Earthly Delights is populated with fabulous characters: a witch, goths, a dominatrix, and the stars of the book: Corinna’s cats. Horatio is her constant feline companion, and then there are the Mouse Police:
Rodent Control Officer Heckle, on the right, a black and white ex-tom of battered appearance, a little light on as to ears and with a curious kink in his tail. A notorious street fighter in his prime, now retired. And on the left, Rodent Control Officer Jekyll, a strong young black and white ex-female who had her litter under the mixing tub and now has no further interest in matrimony.
Corinna is someone you would like to count as a friend. She has just the right balance of chutzpah and self-doubt to make her more than believable. She’s self aware, and generous to a fault. She prefers to read a novel than watch the tv news: I was giving up news for Lent. If it wasn’t Lent, I was giving it up for Passover. Or something. I had had enough of the world. It could go its way and I could go mine and we just wouldn’t notice each other, like two cats on the same roof.
This was a totally enjoyable read. It’s witty and the plot is clever. I look forward to reading the six further adventures and getting better acquainted with Corinna and her friends.