Book 1 - Earthly Delights - Corinna Chapman Mysteries

Onto the second book now & enjoying it much more. Worth the perseverance, thought the characters were interesting and well written.
Some of the dialogue regarding the building was a bit boring but overall worth reading.

Loved the quirky characters in this read. Was wishing I had such interesting and diverse neighbors. The author does a nice job with the wacky and wierd people and definitely has a nice writing style. The unfolding murder mystery was going ok until...the goth scene. What the heck????? Lost me on that one. Just WAY too wierd for my tastes. Also got a bit bored with the constant references to the baking of bread, muffins, etc. May give the next book in the series a try and hope for a better crime solution.

Loved the quirky characters in this read. Was wishing I had such interesting and diverse neighbors. The author does a nice job with the wacky and wierd people and definitely has a nice writing style. The unfolding murder mystery was going ok until...the goth scene. What the heck????? Lost me on that one. Just WAY too wierd for my tastes. Also got a bit bored with the constant references to the baking of bread, muffins, etc. May give the next book in the series a try and hope for a better crime solution.

I honestly found the neighbors more interesting than Corrinna the main character. The mystery wasn't set up well at all. I figured out who the bad guys were way before they were revealed. Daniel's background is hardly explained but with a few bits here and there. They fall in love but they don't even discuss it until pretty much the end. The boob in the bath scene drove me nuts. I'm just glad I got this book when it was free.

I LOVE Kerry Greenwood's Phryne Fisher murder series. Maybe it's the contemporary setting; but this book felt more like a blog than a book to me. I was really looking forward to falling in love with a new set of characters. Not even half way through, and quite frankly I don't care what happens to any of these characters.

I was enjoying the storyline and the characters. Until it turned from an interesting borderline "cozy" into a book with weird S&M storyline. It was a big disappointment. Seems everyone wants to add a few "shades of gray" to their books, but it shouldn't be necessary when the writing is as good as this was.

I guess I should have read the other reviews more thoroughly before I downloaded this one. I the first couple of books in Kerry Greenwood's other series so I thought I would give this a try. Wrong move, and I won't bother to finish the book. The characters are all stock , she could have just written "insert absent minded professor here". She spent pages and pages describing the surrounding and Corinna's morning routine, but very little about the motivation. Nothing that happened in the beginning of the book made any sense, and there was nothing to make me continue to see if it all worked out later. I won't be continuing this series

I know that the Phryne Fisher series is risqué in most stories, I still enjoy most of them. This novel was not enjoyable--there was too much language and sex. Not an enjoyable read. I threw the. Book away before finishing it.

I am a great fan of Australian mystery author Kerry Greenwood's Phryne Fisher series, which is set in a 1920s Melbourne. What a delight to read every book that features the unbelievably chic, unconventional and generous Phryne! So I was really looking forward to Greenwood's other series, which features the zaftig baker Corinna Chapman in present-day Melbourne.

To begin with, "Earthly Delights" contains common Britishisms (e.g., "trainers" for running shoes or sneakers, "lift" for elevator) and the occasional spot of inscrutable Australian expressions and slang (e.g., "gum" for incense, "doona" for duvet or comforter, "rave" for rant, "stuffed up" for "screwed up", "arvo" -- whatever that is). Yet, there aren't many, and most can be deciphered from the context. Don't let that put you off.

What might put you off is that Corinna is no Phryne. Perhaps it was unfair to expect "Earthly Delights" to measure up to the standard set by the Phryne novels, but the Chapman series debut, while enjoyable, just isn't as good -- even though it was a finalist for Australia's Ned Kelly Award for Best Novel in 2004. The divorced Corinna runs her own bakery, the eponymous Earthly Delights, and stumbles onto three mysteries: the abrupt increase in deaths among heroin addicts -- including a nearly fatal incident on her very doorstep, a profane vandalism spree aimed at female tenants in her building, and the missing teenage daughter of one of her neighbors. As with any good cozy, "Earthly Delights" tidies up all the loose threads and introduces a love interest for Corinna; however, Corinna lacks Phryne's sparkle. We just don't care as much about her as we do for Phryne and her oddball household.

I'll be reading the next book in the series, Heavenly Pleasures: A Corinna Chapman Mystery, but I'm not committing further than that.

Want to compare the two series? The Kindle versions of "Earthly Delights" and the first book in the Phryne Fisher series, Cocaine Blues (Phryne Fisher Mysteries (Paperback)), are both free. You can decide for yourself without spending a cent.

I've been enjoying Kerry Greenwood's 1920s Phryne Fisher series for along time, but I never tried her contemporary Corinna Chapman series about a Melbourne baker. When Audible offered the first book in the series on a daily special, I took the plunge.

Like Phryne, Corinna enjoys her cocktails and food but, unlike Phryne, Corinna is no svelte, stylish femme fatale. Corinna is a former accountant, unapologetically fat and fashion-challenged. Divorced two years earlier, Corinna hasn't been on a date since.

Corinna, like Phryne, has a knack for picking up strays and making friends, all of whom help her solve the crime to hand. In this case, there are two crimes to solve. Who is murdering Melboune junkies? Closer to home, who is sending poison-pen letters and painting rude slogans aimed at the women in Corinna's building?

Greenwood has a real knack for characterization. Though her cast of characters is large, all of her characters are vivid and easily distinguishable. The story is told in the first person, and Corinna is a vibrant, wisecracking earth mother with a charming combination of cynic and crusading do-gooder. Her budding romance with Daniel, an Israeli who works as muscle for an organization feeding street people from a late-night van run, is sweetly described. Greenwood makes Corinna's baking sound interesting and appealing, even considering it means getting up at 4am every morning.

In this first book in the series, the perpetrator of the second of the two crimes is extremely obvious from early on in the book. Still, Greenwood is a good enough storyteller that this fact wasn't too bothersome. If you're looking for a light, funny and charming mystery series, give Corinna Chapman a try.

Format: Audible Download/Kindle Whispersync

Although I also had this book on my Kindle, I ended up listening to most of this book for the sheer pleasure of the narrator's voice. Louise Siversin brings a warmth and enthusiasm to her reading of the first of the Corinna Chapman series that is positively infectious. It's in first person so Siversin's voice quickly became Corinna's in my mind.

Earthly Delights is the name of the bakery owned and run by Corinna Chapman. Named of course after the modern title given to the painting by Hieronymus Bosch, a copy of which hangs in her shop. And Corinna does indeed enjoy all of the earthly delights. Let me just say that she is not one of those heroines who will announce at some point that she is one of the lucky women who can eat what she wants and not gain an ounce. I particularly enjoyed the information about baking that is woven into the story.

Early one morning she opens the door to her bakery and discovers a junkie ODing on her grate. Thus begins an interesting and largely cheerful murder mystery involving Corinna, her co-tenants at Insula-- a Roman style apartment building with shops on the first floor and living spaces above, and bits of the Melbourne underworld.

It has some strong language, drug taking and sexual activity so if you are the type of person this would put off then this is not the book for you. It's not a cozy in that sense no matter what HK tried to tell you.

Oh, and who is Jade Forrester, the author whose books Corinna reads? I checked and she is a real author.

ETA: The second book in the series is Heavenly Pleasures: A Corinna Chapman Mystery (Corinna Chapman Mysteries). I bought it even before I had finished this one.

Kerry Greenwood has not only given us a wonderful, engaging story, but she iontroduced me to Australia through her recording of life in this fascinating country. Greenwood is at the top of my list in my latest reading pursuit--foreign mystery writers. Ms Greenwood brings us a woman with such a healthy sense of self and, as well, a hero that made me drool (a most rare experience for me). She draws every one of her characters so well that I feel like I am now personally acquainted with every one of them--and what a cast of characters! A marvelous job all-round.

Greenwood bubbles over with her innate sense of humor; no one could come up with her "stuff" without being that kind of person. I'll give one or two examples, because many of you are like me and enjoy the heck out of a hearty laugh--right in the middle of a mystery.

One example: Corinna buys fresh herbs from her business neighbor, a wiccan who owns the next-door shop Sybil's Cave. We find Corinna giving instructions to her "anorexic" assistant, whom she is sending to buy the day's fresh herbs: "Make sure you say 'kitchen herbs,' " I said, forcing her to repeat it. It had never happened, but I didn't want any of the other plants to wend their way into my bread. Entrancing as the idea of turning some customers into toads might be, . . ."

Example two: Corinna is meeting her ex-husband who has refused to reveal his reason for asking. She clearly doesn't want to be around him, but he sets their meeting in one of the most gorgeous and expensive restaurants in Melbourne--swinging the scales in his favor. As she sees him, she recalls how well she knows him--. . . "I had slept next to him for years. I knew exactly how to stop him snoring (though my last resort, decapatitation, had never been used)."

Greenwood manages to keep our heroine, lovely and skillful and warm-hearted, neck deep in multiple mysteries--and I (a touch ADHD) remained engaged in each one. Her wrap-up contains a bit most scintillating, especially for the modern woman. I'll say nothing more except "Read this book!"

Oh, yes: Greenwood is a master of presenting sex, in all its glorious joy, in the healthiest and most accurate, beautiful, and exciting. This, to me, is the mark of the highest level writer. Thank you Ms. Greenwood! More, please.

Corinna Chapman runs a bakery called Earthly Delights. One morning she finds what appears to be a dead body outside her shop. The body turns out not to be dead but through the discovery Corinna meets Daniel - a devastatingly handsome man who is involved in feeding the homeless in the city of Melbourne. The residents of Corinna's apartment block are receiving threatening anonymous letters which are making them all feel very unsafe and graffiti is appearing on the walls overnight.

In between trying to find why drug addicts are ending up dead on an almost daily basis and who is behind the anonymous letters and the graffiti Corinna must get the bread and muffins baked on time which involves getting up at four in morning. Fortunately she has some willing helpers and some fascinating neighbours. There is a witch, a retired professor, a gardener, some computer geeks and a dominatrix who frequents the local Goth club - Blood Lines. There are also the three cats - Horatio and the Mouse Police - Heckle and Jekyll.

I enjoyed this intriguing mystery with its many strands and fantastic characters. The scenes in the Goth club are absolute classics. The book is narrated by Corinna herself who is a no nonsense feisty lady in her thirties who doesn't believe in doing what is expected of her. If you enjoy books populated with eccentric characters then you will enjoy this first book in the Corinna Chapman series.

first tried Greenwood's Delphic Women series and couldn't get into it. Only read the one book. Then I saw a PBS episode of Phryne Fisher. I first book in that series was OK, I really didn't like Death Before Wicket. You had to understand cricket to appreciate that book. I read all of this series and though Greenwood got better after the first couple of books. She took the time to develop the characters and plots.

This if the first book in the Corinna Chapman series that I have read. I liked that the main character isn't a femme fatale, but an overweight baker. You have to suspend belief that a handsome stranger just shows up and instantly falls in love with her. I'm also not into Goth and the S&M stuff (there is just one scene in the club). I will read the next book in the series. I am hoping Goth and S&M was just used for this one book. If it comes up again in another book, than it isn't the series for me. The storyline could have dealt with drug deaths from overdoses in another way.

Reviewed by Louise Landeta for Reader Views (3/07)

"Earthly Delights" is a delightful mystery that will appeal to the female gender from teen-age to adult women of all ages. The story is well-crafted and peppered with a cast of enchanting characters, all revealing complex tales in and of themselves. The main point, of course, is who is murdering the local drug addicts and why. But there is so much more to play out. Ms. Greenwood achieves her ends admirably and entertainingly.

The protagonist Corinna Chapman grabbed my heart immediately. She is quite a loving person and lovely for it. The author succeeded in bringing her to life in all of the many facets of her personality. I could just picture her in her morning sweats baking her breads and other tasty morsels, then soaking her ample body in warm bath salts and lotions. She is vulnerable and kind, smart and savvy.

I was so entertained I could hardly put the book down--it is a real page turner. The author Ms. Greenwood is an able writer. She has a good grasp of the English language (which is sadly rare these days), and throws in many an intelligent witticism. I really like her style. The cast of characters was so entertaining that I hope to meet up with them again in future books.

As an aside, the title "Earthly Delights" is a reference to the 16th century painting by Hieronymus Bosch called, "The Garden of Delights." It has always been one of my favorites. The book inspired me to look for a print of it which I found and have since framed and hung in my house.

I loved "Earthly Delights" and look forward to more Corinna Chapman magic. I expect Kerry Greenwood will join the ranks of P.D. James, Agatha Christie and other good writers of mystery who have enjoyed a certain longevity.

Received book free of charge.

In Flinders Lane in Melbourne Australia, there is an architecturally, interesting building based on the roman design named Insular. It is home to Corinna Chapman, a Junoesque woman who owns a bakery Earthly Delights on the ground level. Each apartment has a roman name and their inhabitants are an eclectic quirky bunch that includes techno geeks, a dominatrix and a female witch. It is a peaceful place until the flyers start coming to the tenants claiming it is home to a temptress, whore or witch. The person goes from sending flyers to painting graffiti to attempted arson.

While Corinna is very concerned about this, she is dealing with other troubles. She saved the life of a heroin addict who almost died near her door. She meets Daniel, a man of mystery, who is concerned that people are dying from heroin because they are given it in its purest form. She meets Jason, a recovering addict who attaches herself to her, helps her with her baking and is the key to finding the clue that will let them discover who is behind the junkie's deaths. Corinna also is thrilled to realize that the handsome Daniel is in love with her even though she is not a size five.

The Corinna Chapman mysteries are nothing like the Phryne Fisher tales because the women are different as the latter is comfortable in all settings while the former struggles when somewhat outside her norm. The heroine of EARTHLY DELIGHTS is a determined woman who chooses her own path and takes risks on people that most individuals will avoid. Although there is very little action, this tale is a pleasurable interesting reading experience with mysteries great and small.

Harriet Klausner

I found Earthly Delights at a local book store and read it on a rainy summer Sunday. It was wonderful. The mystery was solid, the writing was good and the characters are captivating. Actually the characters are the best thing about the book. You really like Corinna and her neighbors. (I would love to live in that building.) I ordered the 2nd book (Heavenly Pleasures) that night and liked it so much I am currently waiting for the next 3 books to arrive. If you love a good mystery, great characters and bread (did I mention Corinna is a baker) you will love this book!

Set in Melbourne, this new series by Australian author Kerry Greenwood (Phryne Fisher) doesn't break any new ground but that shouldn't detract readers from its charms. Corinna Chapman has traded in her stifling corporate life for one as a bakery owner. Her bakery is brimming with local eccentrics including a teen drug addict she takes under her wing as an apprentice. When other local addicts are found murdered, Corinna decides to get involved. The real story isn't the mystery, but rather the characters of Corinna and her merry band of misfits. If you enjoy cozies or are just in the mood for something light and frothy, Earthly Delights should go down smoothly.

An enjoyable first book in a cosy detective series. Too many mystery/crime novels set in modern Australia are hard core/violent/just plain realistic. This series has a charmingly eccentric setting, a likeable main character, and many cats.

Set in an idealised but recognisable Melbourne, and looking at the benefits and problems involved, our heroine lives in an amusing apartment building with suitably eccentric residents. While looking at crime and poverty in a modern city, there is still proper attention paid to the important things such as baking, cooking, eating, and spending time with friends and cats.

The covers of the American editions are awful. Why did the publishers feel the need to change them? The original Australian covers are in bold colours with simple pictures, these ones look like they're set in some northern English inner city terrace, there is no sun or light or anything. Some of the Australian covers are available on the store uk, so get them instead.

Nice, entertaining book. You can see it being made into a pleasant TV series. It's got some interesting characters. There's a bit of violence off screen, but nothing very scary. Enjoyable and easy. I'll probably read another one sometime, a bit like a Janet Evanovich. The story carries you along even though you know there will be a happy ending.

I love the Phryne Fisher series, so when this book hit the library I scooped it up. Unfortunately, there's very little delight in this book.

I simply can't suspend disbelief enough for this book, nor can I sympathize with the main character. The cats, the impossibly perfect love interest, the exoticism, the ragtag band of cronies - it works in a historical novel where we don't have a personal frame of reference, but not here. I'm sorry, but I didn't enjoy this book.

I have read all the Corinna Chapman books that are available in the U.S. (currently up to Forbidden Fruit) and I just love them. The mysteries are fun, even if the resolution is an improbable collection of unlikely coincidences. I don't mind that at all, as it is the unfolding relationships of the characters that makes these stories so enjoyable. I love all the quirky characters and I enjoy the fantasy of the perfect, delicious Daniel. I am a pet-lover, so I also enjoy the cat characters which are rather prevailent. Greenwood is a bit of an intellectual, referencing Greek mythology, history, literary archetypes, and poetry. Some reviewers have referred to this as smugness, but I never felt it was overly erudite or annoying. In fact, I sensed that this was a bit of a wink to the reader from Greenwood as all the references are kind of funny in how they are woven into the mystery.

I certainly wish my neighbors were so interesting, so well-mannered, so varied in their lifestyles and hobbies, and involved in wacky mysteries all the time. Who wouldn't enjoy heading to a roof top garden (that you dont have to work on!) for a gin and tonic with your fascinating friends every day? I found these books when my own life was stressful and tedious, so escaping into this light, fun series was a soothing delight, like enjoying some comfort food.

I came across this book at the library. Thought I'd give it a try. I really enjoyed the characters and the
unusual setting of the bakery and the fabulous apartment building. I hope there will be more in the future.

Kerry Greenwood is mistress of making what could be the drudgery of a baker's daily life into a page-turning delight!

Set in contemporary Melbourne, Australia, Corinna Chapman is a Rubenesque goddess with the smarts to get out of accounting and into yeast.

If you like your would-be detectives smart, sassy and a whiz in the bakery then this book is for you. A must read for dedicated cat lovers too and, of course, a tall, dark and handsome stranger is always a welcome addition.

Read, enjoy and be immersed in the world of Earthly Delights.

Corinna Chapman is amazing! A fabulous ambassador to Melbourne Australia and a great author to boot. Read this for a temporary escape into the culinary works of Melbourne crossed with a good old read

For a first in a series it has engaging characters, interesting plot. I enjoyed it and have already bought the next book in the series. The book was initially copyrighted in 1997 but has obviously been updated for the U.S. publication.

I LOVED this book. For one thing, the main character is middle aged and fat, hey her words not mine and not ashamed of it,intelligent, funny, good hearted, loyal,hardworking and ends up being loved by a gorgeous man who appreciates her. Aside from all that, the story is funny and original, the setting(Australia) great, plenty of interesting characters,mystery and a wonderful ending. What more could you want? I have had my kindle since December and have only paid for one book (I have about a hundred on it)and that was by mistake(hit the wrong spot on the screen) but I would BUY more books in this series. Oh and did I mention the cats? They are as funny and sweet and as integral a part of the story as the main character and her friends are. What a great read!

More of Greenwood's self-satisfied nonsense, this time set in contemporary Melbourne. The main character is without charm, the setting is twee, and the central mystery is embarrassing on several levels -- particularly the scenes set in what Greenwood fondly imagines is a "goth club". Greenwood's habit of exoticising her male romantic leads continues, the fetishising of the "exotic" making this reader, at least, quite uncomfortable.