Earthly Delights

Corinna Chapman Mysteries, Book 1

By: Kerry Greenwood

Narrated by: Louise Siversen

Length: 7 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's summary

Baking is an alchemical process for Corinna Chapman. At four am she starts work at Earthly Delights, her bakery in Calico Alley.

But one morning Corinna receives a threatening note saying "The wages of sin is death" and finds a syringe in her cat's paw. A blue-faced junkie has collapsed in the dark alley and a mysterious man with beautiful eyes appears with a plan for Corinna and her bread. Then it is Goths, dead drug addicts, witchcraft, a homeless boy, and a missing girl and it seems she will never get those muffins cooked in time.

With flair, chutzpah and a talent for kneading, Corinna Chapman will find out who exactly is threatening her life and bake some beautiful bread.

©1992 Kerry Greenwood (P)2013 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd

Mediocre

Would you listen to Earthly Delights again? Why?

I was a little disappointed in this book I love the Phryne Fisher books. This one drug and didn't catch my interest until half way through. I almost stopped but kept going to see if it would get better.

What did you like best about this story?

The characters

What three words best describe Louise Siversen’s voice?

sleep inducing

Any additional comments?

Needs a better narrater

Fun and kind!

Greenwood is a wonderful author and he readers are stellar. This series opener is a wonderful introduction to Karina and the whole crew of charcters featured in these books. really a fun series. The only one I don't full on enjoy is the most recent, with a different reader.

Don't know why I waited so long.

I have read and listened to all the Phryne Fisher novels and just didn't think another series by the same author could be so good. WRONG. This one is modern, lusty, funny, and again has a heroine who asserts herself and grows. If you have an aversion to the occult or good sex then stay away. Neither overpowers the story but are interwoven well. The narrator, Ms Siversen, does a great job with all the voices too. Looking forward to listening to more.

Surprisingly good!

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I bought this one on a whim, and I'm glad that I did.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

It takes place in a totally different environment, one that is amusing and friendly.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Probably.

Super!

cosy-mystery, ex-military, law-enforcement, wannabes, amateur-sleuth, Australia, murder, situational-humor, verbal-humor

I read the last book in series first, and now want to know everything about the quirky characters, the very retro apartment building, and the Mouse Police! Great plot with lots of unexpected twists and suspense. The depiction of the drug scene and small group efforts to help are so very timely, so too the alternative Goth scene, pedophiles, and the positive aspects of Wicca. But it's also very funny. I loved it!
Louise Siverson is absolutely amazing as the voice performer!

Earth

Good book. Loved the story and the unique characters. It was just a goo book and great entertainment.

A Story of friendships, good food, and St. Kilda

What made the experience of listening to Earthly Delights the most enjoyable?

First it is important to know that the characters is this book are not at all like Kerry Greenwood's books featuring Phryne Fisher which I also enjoy, and for very different reasons than I like Earthly Delights. I loved the narrator for Earthly Delights, Louise Siversen's voice is low and soothing. I also enjoyed the characters. These are beautiful people whose beauty has more to do with intelligence, tolerance, and a determination to be cheerful in the face of petty annoyances, and rotten problems, without being insipid. They live in an old fashioned apartment building, called Insula after similar buildings in ancient Rome (the ancient originals more like tenements than this elegant building.Corinna has given up a very profitable career as an accountant, as well as a "profitable" husband and big house to move into Insula, and take the bakery on the first floor. Waking at four in the morning to bake fresh bread to fill orders for stores and restaurants and bake muffins for people on their way to work, is for her heaven. She tells us that she will never wear a kitten heel again. Being a very large person we can be happy for her. While she has her share of insecurities she is not confused about her ability to run a small business, and trust her own judgment. Her friends are fortunate in her friendship, and heaven help those she sees as enemies. Corinna needs all the good sense she owns when her before dawn work day isn interrupted by a young woman expiring of an overdose on a heating grate outside her shop door. Corinna calls medics, keeps the victim alive, and is roundly cursed for "stealing the young lady's high". However, from this rather nasty beginning Corinna meets strong Daniel, acquires a ragged assistant, and deals with a slander campaign that effects all of the occupants of the building.

What did you like best about this story?

Although the story is character driven, the world Kerry Greenwood describes is consistent from beginning to end. The listener/reader is not jerked out of the story by a character or plot point inconsistent with earlier descriptions. I liked the description of St. Kilda. Living in the eastern United States, I doubt my dream of visiting the city where these characters live will ever be in my budget, but after reading Kerry Greenwood's books I certainly wish it were.

Which scene was your favorite?

There are several. I love the garden upon the roof of the apartment building with its fish pool, benches and arbors, and its contrasts with the soup run, to make sure the homeless get one hot meal a day. Both of these scenes involve Daniel, whom the reader only knows as a dark mysterious stranger for a good bit of the book.

Who was the most memorable character of Earthly Delights and why?

Obviously Corinna is the most memorable because this is her story. I expect though the favorite character will depend upon the reader. My daughter's favorite of course is Daniel a man so beautiful that Corinna can't believe he wants to be with her. My favorite is the retired professor who listens with silence and empathy to those who tell him their problems. Of course loving realistic magic, I also like the the owner of Sybil's Cave. When Corinna needs practical help, she is always willing to help. Not all of her help involves spells.

Any additional comments?

This story is a cozy mystery, it deserves the name more than most. The Corinna Chapman stories act upon me like a soothing cup of tea, OK, more like a glass of white wine. I am going to buy as many of these audiobooks as they produce and save them for days when traffic is bad, people are cranky, and I have to do boring mindless tasks.

Not Phryne Fisher, but a nice "chick's" novel!

Would you consider the audio edition of Earthly Delights to be better than the print version?

I loved the accent of the narrator. But I enjoyed having the Kindle edition to look up some words unfamiliar to me (an American). The narrator tends to do male voices by lowering and slowing her normal voice. While I did not care for this at first, I got used to it and even enjoyed it after awhile.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Earthly Delights?

Can't say without spoiling it for other readers. But there are several nice surprises in the story!

What about Louise Siversen’s performance did you like?

Her accent.

Who was the most memorable character of Earthly Delights and why?

All I can say is that I wish I knew a "Daniel" in real life, haha!

Any additional comments?

I have read several reviews online that unfavorably compared this series to the Phryne Fisher books. No, this is not Phryne. But I would classify it as one might a "chick flick", but in audiobook form. It starts very slowly and I wondered where the story might be going. But soon, my curiosity was piqued as several mysterious situations began to develop, as well as a romance. The story should not be compared to Phryne Fisher. It is a totally different thing. I actually ended up liking it as an "easy listening" sort of book and will probably buy more. I will admit that there were a few parts during which I stopped everything I was doing so I would not miss a word! I doubt men would like this, but I think women who like cozy mysteries will like it. There's also interesting details about baking and bakeries in the story. One last thing is that "new age" philosophies and lifestyles seem to dominate the lives of most of the characters.While I did not really care so much for this, preferring a Christian consensus type of atmosphere, it WAS interesting and not too overboard.

Much racier than expected

What did you love best about Earthly Delights?

The baking and the bakers life style.

What other book might you compare Earthly Delights to and why?

Various amateur detective novels

What does Louise Siversen bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

For the most part, I enjoyed the narration. Her attempt at various voices was not satisfactory, but not as distracting as some.

If you could rename Earthly Delights, what would you call it?

Muffins and Mystery and Murder Most Foul

Any additional comments?

I liked the story and the various characters, which is why I like Kerry Greenwood. She peoples her books with the most interesting characters. And so out of the ordinary. And the situations she puts them in. Quite shocking here.

Warm and Comfortable

This is a good book, not great, but good. A couple of minor quibbles: 1) The narrator has an odd way of giving voice to male characters, making them sound "growly" as if they're choking on their words. 2) The story moves at an even pace with no pausing to dwell on the more dramatic turns of events -- making it seem slightly flat lined.

All in all, the book is a fun listen with very colorful characters. The story line is out of the ordinary and not predictable in its plot turns. I'll happily listen to the next book in the series when I want a break from more emotional and dramatic stories.