Wonderful culinary mystery.
930202
I really enjoyed the twists and turns presented in this catering murder mystery. It was quite a refreshing change from others.
2734860
I would recommend this book to mystery readers that enjoy a who done it filled with humor and human character or anyone that enjoys cooking or eating good food.
4253696
Another good series. I like the little hints and tips in these books and sometimes even recipes. The mysteries are a mystery until the end. Will keep reading this series. I love the characters and the town. You can imagine it in your head. Great job!
1431294
Biscuits and Slashed Browns takes place during the Brown County Maple Syrup Festival in Big Lick, Indiana.  Robbie Jordan and her restaurant Pans and Pancakes are taking part in the festivities, and Robbie is excited about all the business the festival is bringing to her quaint restaurant.  However, when an attendee at a nearby academic conference on Maple Tree Science is found murdered at the Rao Maple Farm, the police have their hands full with plenty of suspects, as the victim was not well-liked.  Robbie, a puzzle-lover at heart, cannot resist the challenge of trying to solve the mystery herself.

I enjoyed this book from beginning to end -- from the down-home characters, small-town life, the rural Indiana dialects, sayings and mannerisms, and the yummy recipes at the end of the book.  And, of course, there is the matter of the perplexing mystery to be solved.  Even though this book is the fourth in the Country Store Mysteries, it was the first that I have read, and I found it can definitely stand on its own without any spoilers from the earlier books.  Biscuits and Slashed Browns is truly a delightful book, and I highly recommend it and look forward to reading the earlier books in the series.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.  All thoughts and opinions are solely my own.
848389
I enjoyed this Country Cooking School Mystery by PAIGE SHELTON. IF MASHED POTATOES COULD DANCE takes place in Broken Rope, Missouri. It seems like everybody knows the other person in this small town. It's nice when people are personal friends with the police in the town. Betts is the main sleuth. Betts talent is being comfortable in the presence of ghosts. They are also comfortable with her. There is more than one ghost, but Sally Swarthmore is the one in the forefront. Sally went to her death being blamed for the murder of her mother and father. This is a takeoff from the true story of Lizzie Borden who many years ago was accused of killing her parents. Lizzie Borden was acquitted.

I fell in love with Sally almost immediately. She's not a cruel or unruly ghost not even pushy. She would like to find her diary, and I think she's happy seeing the Monroe House again. I thought the reason for the murder of Sally's parents was very interesting and made for a good motive. My only discomfort was the fact that the reader doesn't get to see a bit of the play that's going on in town about Sally Swarthmore.  I like onstage mysteries in plays. I also felt there needed to be more meals cooked and served in the cozy. After all, it's "A Country Cooking School Mystery. Otherwise, this is a cozy you won't want to miss. I am looking forward to reading another one.paigesheltongramcookingschool By the way, there are quite a few wonderful potato recipes at the end of the book. I think this is the best advice Gram could ever have given Betts. "Don't get attached to them, Betts. They come and they go. They don't have any control over any of it. Neither do you." Gram, of course, is talking about the ghosts.
4140734
Fun read.  The author combine her extensive culinary knowledge with love of felines in a charming mystery.
4273625
This is the first time that I have read anything from this author. I am a huge fan of culinary novels and loved the food interwoven with the family drama in this book. The characters are all well written and the story line was intriguing. I hope to read more books by this author in the future. I recommend this book.
4854432
This is a really entertaining book.  During a Chicken Soup Showdown the most disliked chef, Chef Britton, turns up dead in the backstage freezer.  Amy and her friend and Carla are considered suspects. Carla's boyfriend is taken off the case because of conflict of interest and an incompetent cop takes over the case.  Amy decides to find the killer and keep her friend out of jail, but there are so many suspects. The antics that Amy goes through to find the killer are funnyand enjoyable.  The killer is a mystery right until the end.  An added delight are the mouth watering recipes.  All in all, the book is a wonderful read.  I'm looking forward to reading more of Janel Gradowski's books.
1164102
Two of the biggest themes in the cozy mystery world are pet cozies and culinary cozies.  Expertly balancing the world between the two is Liz Mugavero, whose main character creates organic treats and meals for pets.  Murder Most Finicky is the fourth book in the series, and its another winner.

Kristan Stan Connor has agreed to participate in a culinary weekend in Rhode Island with famed chef Sheldon Allyn.  Sheldon is looking to put together a great group of chefs he works with to pull off an impressive dinner for a potential group of investors, one of whom has a cat.  If they are happy, there might be a Food Network show for all of them plus money to help Stan expand her Pawsitively Organic pet treat business.

The location of the weekend is top secret; in fact, everyone is blindfolded on their way there.  The only chef missing for the grand unveiling is pastry expert Pierre LaPorte, but Stan quickly finds him with his throat slit.  How did he find out the top secret location?  Who else knew where it was in order to kill him?  Those are just the beginning of the questions as more and more strange things happen.  Can Stan survive long enough to figure things out?

The book is mostly set in Rhode Island, and the supporting characters we have come to love over the previous three books are still at home in Connecticut.  To be perfectly honest, I missed them.  We did get some updates on them via phone calls, but they aren't as prevalent as normal.  Thats my only complaint with the book, and its a minor one.  Still, Im hoping we are back to Frog Ledge, Connecticut, and all of our friends there in the next book.

To make up for that loss, this book is filled with a wonderful cast of suspect characters.  They are all a bit larger than life, but frankly that added to the fun.  It also made it easy to remember who they all were as the plot progressed.  We do get to learn more about Stan as we watch her in this different setting, so fans of the series will appreciate that character development.

Speaking of character development, I do need to amend one thing I said earlier.  One of the series regulars does wind up showing up for several chapters.  The result is some major character development for this character, and I loved that aspect of this book.  I think it will change how Stan interacts with him or her in the future, and Im looking forward to seeing that.  (And no, I don't think I could have been more vague on who it is.)

The mystery continues to twist and turn in many unexpected directions before we reach the climax.  I had no clue how everything was going to be resolved until we got there.  Yet, when the villain is revealed, the clues fell perfectly into place.

Even though most of the chefs in this book make food for humans, the recipes in the back are still treats for pets.  And yes, they still sound delicious.  I think they are healthier than most of the recipes in the culinary cozies I read, too.  So if you make these for your pets and sneak a few for yourself, I won't tell anyone.

If you love pets, you really need to read this series, but loving pets is not a requirement to enjoy this book.  Anyone who loves a good mystery should read Murder Most Finicky.
4674299
If you like your mysteries with lots of food, this is for you. When a good friend is murdered, of course the detective friends need to find whodunnit, but staying well fed offers a touch of humor to the mix. I can't say this was the cleverest mystery I've read, with its emphasis on old fashioned leg work.  But it was a a fun read, and the solution was unexpected.
3073971
I loved the Halloween theme of this mystery. The recipes are a fun addition.  A perfect read for October or any time. I didn't want to  put the book down.
3582752
I appreciate Joanne Fluke's mysteries, complete w/recipes!
The characters are well developed & likable, or at least as likable as the story demands.
1035551
These mysteries are light and fun and just the right combination  of my favorite place and my favorite subject.  Key West and Food. Not to mention the cat Evinrude.  The characters, including a guest appearance by Hayley Snow's mother add richness and realness to the story.  I so relate to the volatile relationship of Hayley and her mother.  Woven in between the places, food (including an occasional recipe) and cast of characters is a solid mystery with nice twists.
I really liked it and am waiting eagerly for the next one.
4041054
This charming collection of recipes would make a fabulous gift for someone who is a mystery fan and likes to cook.  All the recipes are written by mystery writers.
3660505
Leslie Budewitz's initial offering of the Seattle based Spice Shop mystery series is a fascinating story.  I like Pepper, the heroine, and the eclectic mix of people introduced in the book.  Her descriptions of the iconic Seattle  Pike Place Market brought back memories of my trip to Seattle, and the respect given to the spices featured was appreciated.  The mystery itself was well done, and had me guessing to the end of the story.  I enjoy culinary mysteries, and will be eagerly awaiting the next in the series.
3822557
I love Joanne Fluke's books.  She is an excellent writer catering to mostly female readers who enjoy cooking, especially desserts, along with a suspenseful mystery.  There are always several recipes, including how-tos, in every mystery novel. If you are a woman who loves to read for pleasure with a little twist of mystery, Joanne Fluke's for you.
1373774
The second installment of the Bakeshop Mystery series is every bit as good as the first. Once again, Alexander has woven her magical descriptions of food throughout the story  so real that you can taste and smell whats being produced in Tortes kitchen. The mystery is intriguing, particularly since Im a fan of food TV shows. I can just imagine the egos involved in creating one of these productions and what better way to start than to have an egotistic drunken chef end up dead in a big bowl of frosting. If that doesnt get your attention, I don't know what will. A Batter of Life and Death leaves us wondering if Jules and Thomas will ever get together, or if somewhere in the future Carlos will reappear. Im eagerly awaiting the release of On Thin Icing.