a catered murder

a catered murder
a mystery with recipes
isis crawford
fiction/mystery
kensington books
published 2004

Bernadette Simmons wasn't sure what to expect when she left L.A. - and her no-good, cheating boyfriend - to move back in with her family in New York.  And her sister Libby had no idea what she was in for when she hired Bernie to work for her catering business.  But in between cutting up canapes and dishing up desserts, the two find themselves in the midst of a mystery they can really sink their teeth into.

It's only been a few days since Bernie and Libby started working together at A Little Taste of Heaven, and already they've got their hands full - baking cookies and slicing rare beef tenderloin to serve at a high school reunion.  The dinner has a "Dracula" these and a very strange guest of honor: Laird Wrenn, a New York Times bestselling author of vampire novels.  Libby and Bernie know this will be an evening unlike any other.  And they're proven right when Laird pours a glass of water, takes a long sip - and drops stone-cold dead.

Now with murder on the menu and Libby under suspicion, the sisters will have to put their heads together to figure out whodunit - in a mystery that promises to be deadly to the very last bite.

Exploring the 'cozies' type of mystery I came across this series.  Recipes and mysteries?!  Sounds awesome!  Now, I haven't tried the recipes yet, but I did finish the book and I have to say, I didn't love it.  I think that reading Pure used up all my good book karma this past week.  Out of the last 5 books I've read I loved Pure, A Fatal Grace was okay, hated Evernight and Killer and this one were just meh.

But it happens, right?

**slight spoilers ahead**



The killer ultimately was a surprise because they weren't even offered up as a suspect and there was no backstory given on them.  When revealed though, it didn't really feel like a 'wow' twist.  It felt like a 'what the heck?' out of left field kind of twist.  I like to be able to have a chance to figure out the mystery and wonder how they pulled it off.

And the killer's motive was an interesting one so it's kind of sad it wasn't elaborated much.

I also didn't care for Libby much.  Control yourself a bit woman!  Food, her emotions, nothing.  She would just blurt out the absolute wrong thing to say all the time.  Then there were things like Bernie saying to herself how she truly believes people can change.  Then 5 pages later Libby is asking Bernie if she thinks people can change and she says 'absolutely not'.  Huh?

I will read the second book because there was enough her, enough about Libby, Bernie and their father for me to be interesting in finding out more.  And the book wasn't horrible it was just okay.  Maybe it will get better?  Plus, I got the second book for free and that's why I had to find this one at the library.

So I reserve judgement on the series until I finish at least the next one.  Stay tuned....