DELICIOUS AND SUSPICIOUS

DELICIOUS AND SUSPICIOUS
by Riley Adams
Berkley Prime Crime
375 Hudson Street
New York, NY 10014
www.penguingroup.com
ISBN: 9780425235539

Lulu Taylor is matriarch of a family that runs Aunt Pat’s barbeque restaurant, a favorite eatery in Memphis, TN. Hoping to win a spot on the Cooking Channel show, Lulu intends to wow the show’s scout, Rebecca Adrian, when she visits. But Rebecca is arrogant, rude, and not so easily impressed with the food or colorful characters gracing Aunt Pat’s. Rebecca manages to insult most of the people she meets, and when she’s found dead in her hotel room from food poisoning, all eyes turn to Aunt Pat’s, the last place she ate. In hopes of saving her restaurant’s reputation, Lulu turns amateur sleuth, but suspects keep adding up, most of whom are patrons of Aunt Pat’s, some of whom are members of Lulu’s own family.

Readers who enjoy eccentric characters will not be disappointed with Adams’ first book in her Memphis BBQ mystery series. Adams places the series against an appealing backdrop: Memphis, Tennessee, with its gentle Southern charm, charming vernacular and mouth-watering food. Although the plot at times takes a second seat to a plethora of zany characters, Adam’s witty narrative and dialogue move the story along in a fun, entertaining way. An added bonus: great recipes at the end of the book.

COLD WINTER NIGHTS

COLD WINTER NIGHTS
A LAKE GEORGE MYSTERY
by Anne White
Hilliard and Harris
P.O. Box 275
Boonsboro, MD 21713
www.hilliardandharris.com
ISBN: 1591332982

Emerald Point, NY Mayor Loren Graham is looking forward to enjoying the holiday season with her fiancé and friends. The festivities have just begun when the body of well-respected nurse Denise McNaughton is found, beaten to death. Graham’s friend, Deputy Sheriff Jim Thompson, in charge of the investigation and aware of Loren’s propensity for amateur sleuthing, warns her to stay out of the case. Rumors are flying about McNaughton’s social life and Loren, fearing for her town’s safety, takes it upon herself to question those who knew McNaughton well. There are plenty of suspects, including a homeless vagrant and the ex-husband of Loren’s best friend, both of whom reach out to Loren for help in proving their innocence. It isn’t long before Loren’s efforts to help these men turn the killer’s eyes on her.

In this fifth installment of her Lake George Mystery series, White thrusts the reader into a thrilling whodunit, weaving into the story popular Lake George festivities, such as the New Year’s Day Polar Bear Plunge. Loren is an interesting character, a strong woman who feels protective of her town and job as mayor. Secondary characters continue to evolve and are heartwarming and entertaining. This cozy whodunit will prove a challenging read for those trying to solve the mystery for themselves.

DEAD ON ARRIVAL by Jackie Griffey

DEAD ON ARRIVAL
by Jackie Griffey
Five Star Publishing
295 Kennedy Memorial Drive
Waterville, ME 04901
ISBN: 9781594148460

Maggie Murphy finds herself adrift after her husband dies in a motorcycle accident. Their finances weren’t in the best of shape and Maggie needs to find a job. Maggie’s offered temporary employment at her cousin Hank’s newspaper, replacing an advice columnist who hasn’t shown up for work in a couple of days, and she takes it, hoping to find a real job in the interim. When Maggie discovers the columnist’s dead body behind the office dumpster, she meets Patrolman Joe Driver, who agrees to provide Maggie the police report of her husband’s death. Hank offers Maggie the columnist job full-time and things are looking up for her financially and personally as her relationship with Joe begins to blossom. After Maggie learns her husband may have been drugged before his accident, she begins receiving mysterious phone calls and her former house is bombed. As their relationship moves forward, Maggie and Joe sort out clues as to the deaths of her husband and the newspaper columnist, unaware her husband’s spirit is hanging around, looking out for Maggie, who is in more danger than she and Joe realize.

Griffey provides her readers with a fun romp in book one of her Joe and Maggie Mystery series. This cozy mystery is filled with humor and suspense enmeshed within a plot peppered with suspicious characters and plenty of twists and turns. Characters are warm and engaging and the plot interesting and fresh and viable.

A CORPSE IN THE SOUP by Morgan St. James and Phyllice Bradner

A CORPSE IN THE SOUP
by Morgan St. James and Phyllice Bradner
L&L Dreamspell
Spring, TX
www.lldreamspell.com
ISBN: 9781603181204
Trade paperback, 262 pages, $16.95
Genre: Mystery

Goldie Silver and Godiva Olivia DuBois may be identical twins with the ability to communicate with one another telepathically, but that’s where their similarity ends. Fashion-conscious Godiva, living in Beverly Hills, writes an advice column called Ask G.O.D. Free spirit Goldie lives in Juneau, Alaska, where she owns an antique store. Godiva takes Goldie’s daughter Chili, a sous chef, to the taping of popular Chef Caesar Romano’s show. Romano asks Godiva to sample the food and she passes out from food poisoning. Goldie flies in to help, and at the hospital, Romano confides that someone is sabotaging his show. Romano offers Chili a job as his assistant, and Goldie and Godiva put their heads together to try to figure out who’s got it in for Romano. When his nemesis Biff Wellington is found with a knife in his back, Romano’s the number one suspect and Godiva, romantically interested in Romano, is out to prove him innocent, along with the help of her sister Goldie and their mother and uncle, two former Vaudeville magicians.

This fun mystery romp will keep the reader guessing while enjoying the antics of Goldie and Godiva, along with their quirky family. The characters are amusing and endearing, and even the dog Waldo has his humorous moments. The plot moves along crisply, offering plenty of red herrings, and is twisty enough to provide a good whodunit. A Corpse in the Soup, first of the Silver Sisters Mystery series written by sisters St. James and Bradner, is a refreshing addition to the mystery world.

DEATH BY PANTYHOSE by Laura Levine

DEATH BY PANTYHOSE
By Laura Levine
Kensington Books
www.kensingtonbooks.com
ISBN: 9780758207852
Hardback, 244 pages, $22.00
Genre: Mystery

Freelance writer Jaine Austen’s finances are looking pretty good until a con man, under the guise of a potential employer, takes her for a free lunch and her Toyota. Now Jaine has to come up with enough funds for a new car. Desperate for money, she reluctantly agrees to become a writer for feminist comedian Dorcas MacKenzie whose signature is cutting up a pair of pantyhose and throwing it at her audience. On and off stage, Dorcas is heckled by Vic, a mean-spirited comedian who can’t keep his hands off the ladies. Luck seems to follow Vic around until the night he jeers Dorcas one too many times and Dorcas assaults him in front of a bar filled with people. Later that night, Vic’s found strangled to death by a pair of pantyhose, leading to Dorcas’s arrest. Jaine’s on the case in a heartbeat, conducting her own investigation, trying to figure out who among the many suspects offed Vic.

Jaine Austen is a fun character, a woman who can’t resist fattening foods and her moody cat, Prozac. The emails from her parents (this time over a lucky shirt of her dad’s) bump the humor bar even higher, and the characters Jaine contends with while doing her amateur sleuthing generate plenty of laughs.

HOUNDING THE PAVEMENT by Judi McCoy

HOUNDING THE PAVEMENT
by Judi McCoy
New American Library/Penguin
375 Hudson Street
New York, NY 10014
ISBN: 9780451226310
Paperback, 336 pages, $6.99
Genre: Mystery

Ellie Engleman is committed to making her own way in life sans pantyhose and power suits. The first thing Ellie does after her divorce is rescue a dog from the shelter to replace the one she had to give up when she married. Ellie’s delighted to learn she can communicate with her dog and that he is the reincarnate of her former dog, who was hit by a car. She begins her own dog-walking business, where she finds herself harassed by two other dog walkers unhappy with the competition. Ellie discovers the dead body of one of her clients and quickly becomes the number-one suspect of sexy Sam Ryder, a wise-cracking detective who can’t seem to convince Ellie to stay out of his investigation. But Ellie is anxious to find her murdered client’s kidnapped dog, a Westminster champion, while clearing her name, and nothing’s going to stop her. Not even the sizzling chemistry between her and Sam Ryder.

Hounding the Pavement, the first book in the Dog Walker Mystery series, is simply delightful. Ellie is a refreshing character, a size-16 woman finished with compromising her wants and needs and determined to live life on her own terms. Dog lovers will identify with Ellie’s love for these furry creatures and will appreciate that this author is donating all royalties to Best Friends Animal Society. Readers will be entertained by the conversations Ellie has with not only her dog but other dogs who choose to converse with her. The plot is interesting and moves at a fast pace, with plenty of red herrings thrown into the mix to provide a good mystery. Excellent debut to this series.

STRANGER IN PARADISE

STRANGER IN PARADISE
by Jackie Griffey
Five Star
295 Kennedy Memorial Drive
Waterville, Maine 04901
ISBN: 9781594147531
Hardcover, 258 pages, $25.95
Genre: Romance

Raised by her Aunt Sophie, Laura Carroll lived a sheltered life until her aunt’s death, at which time, Laura is shocked to learn her aunt’s will stipulates that Laura must take an exotic vacation for a minimum of two weeks After much debate, Laura decides to go to Isla Verde, a tiny island off Puerto Rico. There, she meets Esteban, a man she is attracted to who does not speak English. The two manage to overcome this barrier using hand signals and speaking the few foreign words they know. In a short time, they realize they are in love but Esteban receives a mysterious message and signals to Laura he must go but will return. When Laura’s stay is up, she has not heard from him and returns home, determined to get over her love for Esteban. Circumstances take her to Hawaii, where she meets a man she recognizes from Isla Verde and finds her life in danger due to her relationship with Esteban.

Jackie Griffey delivers a sweet romance touched with a bit of mystery and topped off with thrilling adventure. The chemistry between Laura and Esteban is nicely portrayed, and the reader will root for the two lovers to find a way to be together. The story moves along at a nice pace, allowing the reader to experience the exotic locale and fall in love with the very likeable characters.

DEATH WILL GET YOU SOBER by Elizabeth Zelvin

Bruce Kohler has been in and out of detox centers most of his adult life. On Christmas day, he isn’t too surprised to find himself in another center, this one on the Bowery in New York City. Bruce quickly befriends fellow patient Godfrey Kettleworth, III, a man on the outs with his rich family and not too popular with the staff. While in detox, an alcoholic with terminal cancer is found dead in the laundry room and Godfrey dies right before Bruce’s eyes. With the help of his lifetime friend Jimmy and Jimmy’s girlfriend Barbara, a counselor who has worked at the Bowery before, Bruce begins his own investigation into these two mysterious deaths, which unravels a murderous pattern among detox centers in New York and places his own life in jeopardy.

Zelvin’s debut novel provides the reader with an insightful peek into the mind and life of an alcoholic trying to stay sober, as well as AA’s 12-step program. The characters are intriguing and well-developed, especially alcoholic Bruce who faces a continual battle to refrain from drinking, and Barbara, a codependent counselor with a witty sense of humor. The plot moves at a fast pace with plenty of twists and turns and suspicious characters lurking about, all set within the glorious backdrop of New York City. This entertaining mystery is sure to draw fans anxious to read future books by this talented author.

ASKING FOR MURDER by Roberta Isleib

ASKING FOR MURDER
By Roberta Isleib
Berkley Prime Crime
375 Hudson St.
New York, NY 10014
ISBN: 9780425223314
Paperback, 23 pages, $6.99 US
Genre: Cozy Mystery

When psychotherapist Rebecca Butterman’s friend, therapist Annabelle Hart, misses a luncheon engagement and does not return her calls, Rebecca becomes concerned. She goes to her friend’s house and finds Annabelle badly beaten. Annabelle is rushed to the hospital, where she lies in coma. Rebecca’s attempts to see Annabelle at the hospital are denied by Annabelle’s sister, a cold woman who writes a catty gossip column. Rebecca incorporates the help of Detective Meigs, who concludes that Annabelle was beaten as the result of a botched robbery, and then mysteriously disappears. Rebecca decides to do some sleuthing on her own, which isn’t easy with so many people connected to Annabelle acting suspicious, if not guilty.

This third outing in the Advice Column Mystery series by Roberta Isleib proves another winner. Rebecca Butterman is complicated, has unresolved issues, and is still trying to find her way in the world. She can be petty and has lingering doubts about her divorce, but overall is intelligent and loyal and works hard to make the best out of the situations she finds herself in while trying to deal with past traumas and lingering issues. Isleib throws in plenty of red herrings, wrapped around an intriguing plot.

PERFECT FOR FRAMING by Maggie Bishop

PERFECT FOR FRAMING
By Maggie Bishop
High Country Publishers
197 New Market Center #135
Boone, NC 28607
ISBN: 9781932158847
Trade paperback, 176 pages, $12.00
Genre: Mystery

Jemma Chase and Detective Tucker return for another suspense-filled escapade in Perfect for Framing, the latest addition to Maggie Bishop’s acclaimed Appalachian Adventure Mystery series. With the advent of winter, Jemma turns from helping run Chase’s Dude Ranch to utilizing her skills as photographer and wood worker. Jemma is hired by Petula Windsor, president of a local property owners’ association, to build cabinets in her guest house, but before Jemma can collect her pay, Petula burns to death in the same house. Jemma, a CSI wannabe, would like nothing more than to be in on the investigation, and Tucker has a hard time trying to keep her interest at bay. But when Petula’s husband is found dead and Tucker’s life is jeopardized, Jemma won’t be stopped until she finds the murderer.

Once more, Maggie Bishop delivers a thrilling whodunit peppered with lovable characters and set against the beautiful backdrop of the mountains of North Carolina. Packed with breath-taking action and nail-biting suspense, with a twisting plot that guarantees constant speculation, this is one book that will have readers quickly turning pages, eager to find out what happens next.

THE DIVA RUNS OUT OF THYME by Krista Davis

THE DIVA RUNS OUT OF THYME
By Krista Davis
Berkley Prime Crime
375 Hudson Street
New York, NY 10014
ISBN: 9780425224267
Paperback, 292 pages, $6.99 US
Genre: Mystery

Event planner Sophie Winston and lifestyle columnist, TV celebrity Natasha Smith have been rivals since childhood. And now Natasha is living with Sophie’s ex and coveting Sophie’s house, which belonged to her ex’s deceased aunt. Sophie has a busy Thanksgiving planned, with her mother, father, sister and sister’s fiancé coming to visit. But things get off to a bumpy start from the get-go, when Sophie discovers the dead body of a private investigator in a dumpster. She quickly becomes a suspect when the police find her name and photo inside the dead man’s car. Sophie engages in some amateur sleuthing and learns Natasha hired the PI. If that isn’t bad enough, dead bodies keep turning up, all with a connection to Sophie and Natasha. On top of which, Sophie is attracted to the detective who seems convinced she’s a murderer.

The first book in the Domestic Diva series starts the ball rolling with a glorified bang. This cozy mystery delivers a plethora of useful household tips and mouth-watering recipes immersed within a keep-you-guessing plot filled with suspicious-acting characters and twists and turns around every corner. Davis’s smart writing style and engaging characters are sure to garner fans anxious to read future books in the series.