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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2464 KP) rated The Fragrance of Death in Books
Aug 8, 2022
Murder is Nothing to Artichoke Over
Thanks to a sinus infection, Sally Solari has lost her sense of smell. While that would be bad enough under normal circumstances since it interferes with cooking at her restaurant, she is really struggling to prepare her dish for the Santa Cruz Artichoke Cook-Off. However, that quickly becomes the least of the issues when the body of a fellow contestant, Neil Lerici, is found near the end of the day. Sally had been friends with Neil’s sister, Grace, in high school. As the two rekindle their friendship, she can’t help but poke around. But is her old friend guilty of murder?
It's been a few years since we last visited Sally, but I am pleased to say she is back in top form. It was great to catch up with her and her family and friends and see the next steps in some of her relationships. The suspects were strong, which lead to a mystery that was hard to figure out. It kept me engaged the entire time, and once Sally reached the solution, everything fell into place. Each book has focused on a different of the five senses, and I thought the sense of smell was done wonderfully here. Naturally, there are some recipes to enjoy after you’ve finished the book. Fans will be pleased to visit Sally again and will join me in waiting for the next in the series.
It's been a few years since we last visited Sally, but I am pleased to say she is back in top form. It was great to catch up with her and her family and friends and see the next steps in some of her relationships. The suspects were strong, which lead to a mystery that was hard to figure out. It kept me engaged the entire time, and once Sally reached the solution, everything fell into place. Each book has focused on a different of the five senses, and I thought the sense of smell was done wonderfully here. Naturally, there are some recipes to enjoy after you’ve finished the book. Fans will be pleased to visit Sally again and will join me in waiting for the next in the series.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2464 KP) rated Till Death Do Us Port in Books
Mar 9, 2023
This Wasn’t in the Wedding Plan
Parker Valentine is thrilled for her cousin, Emma, who is about to marry the man of her dreams. And Parker is hoping that providing the wine for the reception will help grow her winery. However, the day is facing more than the usual rockiness. Then things take a turn when the wedding planner turns up dead, and Parker teams up with an unlikely ally to figure out who did it.
I’d forgotten just how wonderful this series is before I picked up this book, but I was reminded very quickly. The characters are strong. I love seeing how Parker and the rest of the regulars have grown, and the new characters were just as good. Between drama and the mystery, there’s plenty to keep us turning pages, and it leads to a great climax. The way the author weaves in tidbits about grapes and wine to shed light on the story helps build on the theme. There are some funny moments as well, which really added to my enjoyment. The book is written in present tense, which is different, but I find it well worth the extra effort it takes my brain to adjust in the first couple of chapters. We get three recipes at the end, combined with suggested wine pairings. Fans will enjoy this book, and if you haven’t started this series yet, fix that today.
I’d forgotten just how wonderful this series is before I picked up this book, but I was reminded very quickly. The characters are strong. I love seeing how Parker and the rest of the regulars have grown, and the new characters were just as good. Between drama and the mystery, there’s plenty to keep us turning pages, and it leads to a great climax. The way the author weaves in tidbits about grapes and wine to shed light on the story helps build on the theme. There are some funny moments as well, which really added to my enjoyment. The book is written in present tense, which is different, but I find it well worth the extra effort it takes my brain to adjust in the first couple of chapters. We get three recipes at the end, combined with suggested wine pairings. Fans will enjoy this book, and if you haven’t started this series yet, fix that today.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2464 KP) rated Strawberried Alive in Books
May 9, 2022
Who Shot at Mel?
Mel DeLaura is spending a late night at Fairy Tale Cupcakes in Old Town Scottsdale thanks to a bridezilla who needs a last-minute change to her cupcake order. That’s why she finds herself alone behind the bakery well after dark. She’s just locked up when someone starts shooting at her. Fortunately, they missed, but a neighboring business owner isn’t so lucky the next night. As Mel’s family and friends go into protection mode, another incident happens. What is going on in Old Town?
This book starts right out with the action. The plot is a little different, which I mostly enjoyed. Unfortunately, the execution didn’t quite work out, leaving us with a climax that felt a little rushed. Don’t worry, everything makes sense. The characters we love are all here, which is wonderful since I love spending time with them, and their interactions provide some great laughs. Much of the action takes place around Old Town Scottsdale, so we get to meet more of Mel’s business neighbors, which is fun. Of course, they also serve as suspects, and they do a great job of it. This book will leave you craving cupcakes, so watch for four delicious sounding recipes at the end. Long time fans will be happy to visit these friends again. If you are new to the series, you’ll soon find herself devouring all of them almost as quickly as you would a cupcake.
This book starts right out with the action. The plot is a little different, which I mostly enjoyed. Unfortunately, the execution didn’t quite work out, leaving us with a climax that felt a little rushed. Don’t worry, everything makes sense. The characters we love are all here, which is wonderful since I love spending time with them, and their interactions provide some great laughs. Much of the action takes place around Old Town Scottsdale, so we get to meet more of Mel’s business neighbors, which is fun. Of course, they also serve as suspects, and they do a great job of it. This book will leave you craving cupcakes, so watch for four delicious sounding recipes at the end. Long time fans will be happy to visit these friends again. If you are new to the series, you’ll soon find herself devouring all of them almost as quickly as you would a cupcake.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2464 KP) rated Death by Bubble Tea in Books
Jul 13, 2022
Deadly Drink in the Dark
Yale Yee is not thrilled that her cousin, Celine, is coming for a visit and even less thrilled when her father suggests the two of them work together to represent his restaurant at the new night market in her neighborhood of L.A. However, she is will to admit by the end of the first night that things went well. That’s before she finds a dead body on her way back to her apartment. The young woman is lying next to one of the distinctive glasses that Yale and Celine served their drinks in, so the police zero in on them as their prime suspects. Can Yale figure out what really happened?
Like many firsts in series, this one has to do a juggling act of introducing characters and setting while also getting the story going. It does a good job, especially since some of the things introduced early on do come into play later. The pacing did lag a little in the middle before we reached the logical solution. The characters did a few things that felt like they were more plot driven than coming from real characterizations. On the other hand, I really did like the characters and their relationships kept me reading. I found Yale’s aversion to technology interesting and fitting her character. Naturally, we get a couple recipes at the end of the book. I’m looking forward to visiting these characters again when the second book comes out.
Like many firsts in series, this one has to do a juggling act of introducing characters and setting while also getting the story going. It does a good job, especially since some of the things introduced early on do come into play later. The pacing did lag a little in the middle before we reached the logical solution. The characters did a few things that felt like they were more plot driven than coming from real characterizations. On the other hand, I really did like the characters and their relationships kept me reading. I found Yale’s aversion to technology interesting and fitting her character. Naturally, we get a couple recipes at the end of the book. I’m looking forward to visiting these characters again when the second book comes out.
A Dish to Die for
5.0
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Peace and quiet are hard to find in bustling Key West, so Hayley Snow, food critic for Key Zest...
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2464 KP) rated A Parfait Crime in Books
Oct 26, 2023 (Updated Oct 26, 2023)
Val is Trapped in Another Mystery
Val’s Grandfather has joined a local reader’s production of Agatha Christie’s classic play The Mousetrap. The cast is just planning to read the play for the audience instead of doing a full production with a set and movement on stage. However, a house fire kills the woman who was going to play the lead. Even stranger, the firefighters find a dead body hidden in a freezer elsewhere in the house. Val is drafted to fill the dead woman’s place in the play, and it gives Val and her grandfather perfect access to others who knew the victim. What will the duo uncover?
You don’t need to have seen The Mousetrap to enjoy this book. In fact, it goes out of its way to not spoil the play but still mentioning anything the story is mirroring. But fans of the play will get an added kick out the way it is included. The plot is strong as always with plenty of suspects and clues to keep us guessing. I did feel the climax was a little weak, but the everything is still explained satisfactorily. The characters are as good as always, and I loved seeing some of the series regulars grow. And we get five more five-ingredient recipes at the end. If you enjoy a well plotted mystery, you’ll be glad you picked up this book.
You don’t need to have seen The Mousetrap to enjoy this book. In fact, it goes out of its way to not spoil the play but still mentioning anything the story is mirroring. But fans of the play will get an added kick out the way it is included. The plot is strong as always with plenty of suspects and clues to keep us guessing. I did feel the climax was a little weak, but the everything is still explained satisfactorily. The characters are as good as always, and I loved seeing some of the series regulars grow. And we get five more five-ingredient recipes at the end. If you enjoy a well plotted mystery, you’ll be glad you picked up this book.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2464 KP) rated The Christmas Caper in Books
Dec 19, 2022
Museum Robbery at Christmas
Tempest Raj and her family are reviving a Christmas tradition this year – Christmas in Scotland. Her grandparents have even booked a flat with a stunning view of Edinburgh Castle. However, a reunion with a family friend present Tempest with a puzzle to solve. The local museum was robbed recently, and no one can figure out how the thieves pulled it off. The friend has a connection to the museum and asks Tempest to see if she can figure out how the thieves pulled it off. Will Tempest’s background as a magician help solve the puzzle?
When I learned about this story, I immediate snagged it to read during December. It was exactly what I expected, a fun, short read. I finished it in under an hour. As a result, the story is a bit straight forward, but that’s not really a complaint. More an observation. While we don’t see all the characters we met in the first book, it was fun catching up with some of them again. The new characters work for the story here. While this does fit between the first and second novels in the series, you don’t have to have read them to enjoy this book. Speaking of enjoying, there are two recipes at the end that sound delicious. If you are looking for a short story to read in December, you’ll be glad you snagged this one.
When I learned about this story, I immediate snagged it to read during December. It was exactly what I expected, a fun, short read. I finished it in under an hour. As a result, the story is a bit straight forward, but that’s not really a complaint. More an observation. While we don’t see all the characters we met in the first book, it was fun catching up with some of them again. The new characters work for the story here. While this does fit between the first and second novels in the series, you don’t have to have read them to enjoy this book. Speaking of enjoying, there are two recipes at the end that sound delicious. If you are looking for a short story to read in December, you’ll be glad you snagged this one.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2464 KP) rated Hot Pot Murder in Books
Jun 14, 2023
Shocking Ending to a Festive Meal
Yale Yee and her cousin Celine are celebrating Thanksgiving with a local association of Asian restaurant owners. Since Yale’s father has been a member for years, she knows most of the members, but she’s still surprised at the tensions bubbling beneath the surface at the hot pot celebration. Then the group’s president dies when he goes to plug in an extension cord. The police start looking at it as murder, and Yale can’t help but get involved in trying to figure out what really happened. If it was murder, can she prove it?
I enjoyed meeting Yale and Celine in the first book in this series, and I’m happy to say they were fantastic once again. Not only does their relationship with each other grow, but they also grow individually, which I enjoyed watching. While the suspects could be a tad stronger, it’s a minor point, and I enjoyed spending time with the rest of the returning characters. The mystery is strong with several great twists, and I loved the way the climax played out. While the majority of the action takes place in a fictional neighborhood in L.A., I enjoyed it when we visited some real parts of the city. There are also two recipes at the end of the book. If you are looking for a cozy with a bit of a different setting and strong leads, you need to check out this series.
I enjoyed meeting Yale and Celine in the first book in this series, and I’m happy to say they were fantastic once again. Not only does their relationship with each other grow, but they also grow individually, which I enjoyed watching. While the suspects could be a tad stronger, it’s a minor point, and I enjoyed spending time with the rest of the returning characters. The mystery is strong with several great twists, and I loved the way the climax played out. While the majority of the action takes place in a fictional neighborhood in L.A., I enjoyed it when we visited some real parts of the city. There are also two recipes at the end of the book. If you are looking for a cozy with a bit of a different setting and strong leads, you need to check out this series.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2464 KP) rated Public Anchovy #1 in Books
Aug 2, 2024 (Updated Aug 2, 2024)
Who Made Their Enemy Sleep with the Fishes?
Delilah O’Leary is thrilled that she’s been asked to cater the posh fund raiser for the library since she needs events like this to help her restaurant get through the lean winter months. The event is being held at a remote mansion on the outskirts of the town. Unfortunately, the first big storm of the season is due in that night. Even worse, someone dies during the event, and the storm traps Delilah, Detective Capone, Delilah’s staff, and some of the guests, at the mansion. As it becomes clear that the death was a murder, Delilah begins to poke around. Are they trapped with a killer?
This is a mystery trope we don’t see very often any more, and I was a little concerned about the author pulling it off when I sat down to read it. I need not have worried. There was plenty here to keep me engaged and confused as we worked toward the logical climax. We do see most of the regulars (only one gets a cameo as a result of the set up), and it was nice to get updates on them. Meanwhile, the suspects kept me guessing. The atmosphere of the storm also added to the fun of the story. There are some recipes at the end, and the focus on creating a pizza with alternative ingredients. This is the best book in the series to date.
This is a mystery trope we don’t see very often any more, and I was a little concerned about the author pulling it off when I sat down to read it. I need not have worried. There was plenty here to keep me engaged and confused as we worked toward the logical climax. We do see most of the regulars (only one gets a cameo as a result of the set up), and it was nice to get updates on them. Meanwhile, the suspects kept me guessing. The atmosphere of the storm also added to the fun of the story. There are some recipes at the end, and the focus on creating a pizza with alternative ingredients. This is the best book in the series to date.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2464 KP) rated The Raven Thief in Books
Jan 25, 2024 (Updated Jan 25, 2024)
Who Made the Impossible Possible?
Tempest Raj’s family’s specialty construction company has just finished a project for a family friend. Lavinia Kingsley wanted to redesign a space her ex-husband had used. She’s planning an open house followed by a séance, overseen by Tempest’s friend Sanjay, to ceremonially get her ex out of her life. However, when the lights come on in the middle of the séance, the group finds Lavinia’s ex’s very real body on the table in their midst. With the police looking at her grandfather, Tempest jumps into the case. But she realizes there are four impossible things that she needs to figure out in order to solve the case. Can she figure out not only who did it, but how?
I’m not sure why I didn’t get to this book sooner, but I’m glad I finally did. I was quickly hooked, and the locked room aspect really added to the plot. The complications and twists just made the book harder to put down, but I was completely satisfied when I turned the last page. I fell in love with the characters even more here, as well. We get some advancement to the overarching storyline related to Tempest’s family, which made me glad the next book is coming soon. There are even three recipes at the end. If you haven’t read this book yet, fix that today.
I’m not sure why I didn’t get to this book sooner, but I’m glad I finally did. I was quickly hooked, and the locked room aspect really added to the plot. The complications and twists just made the book harder to put down, but I was completely satisfied when I turned the last page. I fell in love with the characters even more here, as well. We get some advancement to the overarching storyline related to Tempest’s family, which made me glad the next book is coming soon. There are even three recipes at the end. If you haven’t read this book yet, fix that today.
