CULINARY MYSTERIES...

John Irving -- LAST NIGHT IN TWISTED RIVER 

Cathie John -- BEAT A ROTTEN EGG TO THE PUNCH

Claire M Johnson -- BEAT UNTIL STIFF

Sharon Kahn -- FAX ME A BAGEL

Josi S Kilpack -- LEMON TART

Peter King -- THE GOURMET DETECTIVE

Cecile LaMalle -- APPETITE FOR MURDER

Janet Laurence -- A DEEPE COFFYN

Cynthia Lawrence -- CHILL BEFORE SERVING

Shelby Lewis -- DELICIOUS

Nan & Ivan Lyons -- SOMEONE IS KILLING THE GREAT CHEFS OF EUROPE

Peter Mayle -- ANYTHING CONSIDERED

G A McKevett -- COOKED GOOSE

Amy Myers -- MURDER AT PUGS PARLOR

Tamar Myers -- TOO MANY CROOKS SPOIL THE BROTH

Katherine Hall Page -- THE BODY IN THE BELFRY

Joanne Pence -- SOMETHING'S COOKING

Nancy Pickard -- THE 17-INGREDIENT CHILI CON CARNI MURDERS

Virginia Rich -- THE BAKED BEAN SUPPER MURDERS

Phillis Richman -- WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA HAM?

Alexandra Roudybush -- A GASTRONOMIC MURDER

S J Rozan -- BITTER FEAST

Michele Scott -- MURDER UNCORKED

Steve Sherman -- MAPLE SUGAR MURDERS

Sharon Short -- DEATH BY DEEP-DISH PIE

Julie Smith -- THE SOURDOUGH WARS

J B Stanley -- CARBS & CADAVERS

Lou Jane Temple -- DEATH BY RHUBARB

Emily Toll -- MURDER PANS OUT

Livia J Washburn -- MURDER BY THE SLICE

Janice Weber -- DEVIL'S FOOD

Melinda Wells -- KILLER MOUSSE

(Okay -- I know.  The Bourdain, Gadol and Irving titles aren't the first volumes in ongoing series.  But they SHOULD be.  They're that good.)

MONSIEUR PAMPLEMOUSSE AND THE FRENCH SOLUTION -- by Michael Bond  

When Monsieur Pamplemousse got an urgent summons from the Director of Le Guide, he knew that there was trouble at the top. His faithful canine companion, Pommes Frites, noticed it too.

But neither of them expected that the trouble would involve a nun who was in the habit of joining the Mile High Club or a full-scale smear campaign targeting Le Guide's credibility as France's première restaurant and hotel guide. Someone has been spreading worrying rumours among the staff and infiltrating the company files - awarding hotels prizes for bedbugs and praising egg and chips signature dishes. Even Pommes Frites has become a victim of the assault.

It could all spell the ruin for Le Guide, but Pamplemousse is on the case...

MONSIEUR PAMPLEMOUSSE AND THE CARBON FOOTPRINT -- by Michael Bond

When Le Guide, France’s premier gastronomic bible seems to be failing to whet the appetites of American readers, Monsieur Pamplemousse is tasked with the job of addressing the problem.

Though he has the help of his faithful bloodhound Pommes Frites, everything rests on Jay Corby, revered and feared American food critic. However, disaster strikes and Pamplemousse is the only one who can save Le Guide’s transatlantic reputation as well as save Corby from the Mob. Once again he can rely on Pommes Frites, though their only lead is some flimsy undergarments…

Monsieur Pamplemousse and his faithful dog Pommes Frites are true and original comic inventions.  Michael Bond, creator of Paddington Bear, has proven to be a master of the culinary mystery.  During World War II Michael served in both the Royal Air Force and the Middlesex Regiment of the British Army. He began writing in 1945 and sold his first short story to a magazine called London Opinion. This experience helped him decide that he wanted to be a writer.

CORKED BY CABERNET -- A Wine Lover's Mystery by Michele Scott

Nikki Sands is exactly where she wants to be as the Manager of the Malveaux Estates in Napa Valley—and ‘shacking up’ with the owner, her boyfriend Derek Malveaux. But she starts to lose control when some self-helpers arrive and steal her peace of mind…

Nikki couldn’t be happier settling into the vineyard with her boyfriend Derek. But when a guru and his followers check into the winery’s boutique hotel and spa for a retreat, she feels far from enlightened as she’s forced to take on the role of event coordinator. Their first outing on the famous Napa Valley Wine train reinforces her doubt when a member goes missing. The guru’s devotee is found in the wine storage car where someone quite literally—and fatally—put a cork in him. It’s up to Nikki to stop a killer who’s developed a real taste for murder…

Goldy Schulz is thrilled to be catering a holiday breakfast feast for the staff of the Aspen Meadow Library. But little does she know that on the menu, alongside the Great Expectations Grapefruit, Chuzzlewit Cheese Pie, and Bleak House Bars, is a large helping of murder.

While setting up at the library, Goldy spots a woman lurking in the stacks who bears a striking resemblance to Sandee Brisbane—the Sandee Brisbane who killed Goldy's ex-husband, the Jerk. But Sandee is supposed to be dead. Or so everyone believes.

Goldy's suspicions mount when the body of Drew Wellington, a former district attorney, is found in a corner of the library with a map worth thousands of dollars stashed in his clothing. She's convinced that Sandee is involved.

But the holiday madness is only just beginning for Goldy. Soon she's drawn into the dangerous, double-crossing world of high-end map dealing. And like the ghost of Christmas past, Sandee keeps making an appearance. Could she be out to prove that revenge is sweet?

Colorado caterer Goldy Schulz encounters bridezilla—and murder—in another delectable novel by the New York Times bestselling author of Sweet Revenge, Dark Tort, and Double Shot

It's been a long, rainy summer for Goldy Schulz, who is engaged in planning wedding receptions for what seems to be all of Aspen Meadow. It's bad enough that Billie Attenborough, the bride from hell, has changed her menu six times and the event date twice. Now she wants to move the location to the Gold Gulch Spa just a scant two days before tying the knot to her doctor fiancé.

Then Doc Finn, beloved local physician and the best friend of Goldy's godfather, Jack, is killed when his car tumbles into a ravine. At least that's what appears to have happened. But Jack thinks Doc was murdered because of the research he was doing at the spa—allegations that are confirmed when Jack himself is attacked.

So Goldy dons chef's whites and goes undercover at the spa, where coffee is outlawed in favor of calming smoothies, and the fruit cocktail doesn't include fresh fruit. Add in the obstreperous owner, who years ago tried to sabotage Goldy's fledgling business, and she's got her hands full.

Above all, there seems to be a clever killer on the spa grounds, watching her every move. After what befell Jack, Goldy knows that she might be next. Catering weddings, and cooking low-fat food, could be killing her—literally.

"When is Goldy's Culinary Mystery #16 coming out?" became a mystery in itself.  For most of her releases, when last year's Goldy appeared in paperback, we could snatch up her latest hardcover appearance.  Sometimes there was that two year wait.  But for a while there was no mention of #16.  Dianne made no reference of it on her site.  No mention of it in her interviews...  Then came the announcement: Goldy will be back in 2011 in CRUNCH TIME.

Now here's an interesting twist - in Claudia Bishop's latest Hemlock Falls mystery, the publisher has added a note: "The recipes contained in this book are to be followed exactly as written.  The publisher is not responsible for your specific health or allergy needs that may require medical supervision.  The publisher is not responsible for any adverse reactions to the recipes contained in this book."  This caution might explain why Claudia's TOAST MORTEM was a while finding it's way to the bookshelves.  Could it explain the latest delay of Goldy Schulz?

My wife Mary Lee and I have accumulated hundreds of cookbooks, not to mention personal notebooks and cards containing traditional East Coast recipes and our own personal creations (I go for local entrees - Mary Lee for creating desserts).  So we're not ones to test many of the recipes in our favorite Culinary Mysteries.  But are fans following our favorite authors' recipes - with perhaps more deadly results?  In this litigious age, I hope this doesn't endanger the Foodie Whodunit!  They're way too much fun. 

Winter in Lake Eden, Minnesota, is the perfect time to curl up by a cozy fire with something—and someone—sweet. But while bakery owner Hannah Swensen can provide herself with the confections, cuddling will have to take a back seat to sleuthing when her sometime-squeeze becomes a murder suspect...

With the launch party of her mother’s novel around the corner, Hannah has a dress to fit into and a date with her sister, Andrea, at Lake Eden's new health club, Heavenly Bodies. Dragging herself out of bed on a frigid Minnesota morning for exercise, of all things, is bad enough. Discovering a dead body floating in the gym’s jacuzzi? Okay, that's worse. Nor does it help that there's a plate of The Cookie Jar’s very own cream puffs garnishing the murder scene. The fact that they were purchased by none other than Hannah's part-time flame, Detective Mike Kingston, is simply the icing on what's shaping up to be one very messy cake...

Mike may be the prime suspect in the murder of man-eating bombshell Ronni Ward, but he's by no means the only one. Ronni, a fitness instructor at both the Sheriff’s department and Heavenly Bodies, made a nasty habit of throwing her own heavenly body at every man, eligible or not, who crossed her path. Plenty of Lake Eden’s ladies won’t miss Ronni, including her ex-fiance’s former girlfriend, the angry mother of one of her would-be conquests, and even the mayor’s wife. Could any of them have wanted her gone badly enough to make it happen? Mike’s recruited Hannah to find out, and, as any suspended, suspected detective would, he’s micromanaging her every step of the way...

Between trying to narrow the list of Ronni’s enemies down to fewer than half the town’s female population and resisting the urge to remove Mike from the running by throttling him herself, Hannah has her plate full. Trouble is, when it comes to cookies—and to murder—there's always room for one more...

APPLE TURNOVER MYSTERY -- by Joanne Fluke

It's June in Lake Eden, Minnesota, and for Hannah Swensen, that means bridal showers galore, plus a massive fundraising event in need of confections--not to mention a killer who never learned that charity begins at home...

Early summer brings plenty of work for Hannah, even before Mayor Bascomb's wife drops by The Cookie Jar to place an order ...for eleven-hundred cookies! Stephanie Bascomb is organizing an elaborate three-day event to support local charities, and though it's a worthy cause, Hannah almost flips when her business partner, Lisa, suggests setting up an apple turnover stand. Hannah's never made a turnover--but, pushover that she is, she places her faith in Lisa's mother-in-law's recipe and agrees to be a magician's assistant in the fundraiser's talent show...

Dozens of pastries and one hideous purple dress later, Hannah has to admit that stepping out of her comfort zone has been fun as well as profitable. The only snag is the show's host, community college professor Bradford Ramsey. Hannah and her younger sister Michelle each had unfortunate romantic relationships with Ramsey, and when the cad comes sniffing around between acts, Hannah tells him off. But when the curtain doesn't go up, she discovers Ramsey backstage--dead as a doornail with a turnover in his hand...

Now, to protect her reputation and Michelle's, Hannah must get to the bottom of the professor's bitter end. There are plenty of scorned suspects, including an ex-wife who feels cheated in more ways than one, and a prominent local who may have been using Ramsey to avenge her own randy spouse. But who was unstable enough to snuff out Professor Love? A killer who's flakier than puff pastry--and far more dangerous... Includes Over Ten Cookie and Dessert Recipes!

A PLATEFUL OF MURDER -- by Claudia Bishop 

The first two Hemlock Falls mysteries — a winning recipe for mystery lovers!

A Taste for Murder takes readers to the festival at Hemlock Falls, featuring a reenactment of the 17th-century witch trials. But this year the mock execution becomes all too real when a guest at the Inn is crushed under a pile of stones. The killer has not been identified—yet.

In A Dash of Death, Helena Houndswood is the epitome of class when the cameras are rolling. Behind the scenes, this expert on style is a snob with a heart of stone. She’s furious to hear that the decidedly déclassé women of Hemlock Falls have won her TV show’s design contest. When one winner goes missing and the other is found dead, Helena falls under suspicion. Murder can be so tacky.

DEATH IN TWO COURSES -- by Claudia Bishop 

Two Hemlock Falls mysteries — together for the first time!

In A Pinch of Poison, newspaperman Hedrick Conway is making news in Hemlock Falls, but he’s making enemies even faster. His current exposé: an in-depth look at plans for the local mini-mall, in which several prominent people have invested a great deal of money. Hedrick thinks something funny is going on, but nobody’s laughing when two of his relatives turn up murdered…

In Murder Well-Done, The Inn at Hemlock Falls has the misfortune of hosting the wedding rehearsal dinner of Alphonse Santini. The ex- senator, looking to get reelected, has brought big-time politics to the little town. And while politics make strange bedfellows, the dead fellows being made are even stranger.

TOAST MORTEM -- by Claudia Bishop 

The Inn at Hemlock Falls reopens for readers!

Bernard LeVasque has opened a multi-million dollar cooking school in Hemlock Falls — and has even stolen customers from Sarah and Meg Quilliam’s Inn. But someone finds the infamous chef too bitter — and takes him off the menu for good.

OOLONG DEAD -- A Tea Shop Mystery by Laura Childs

Laura Childs is a pseudonym for Gerry Schmitt, former owner/CEO/Creative Director of a marketing/advertising firm in Minneapolis. She's putting that knowledge to good use for extensive self-promotion. Laura Childs is the author of the Tea Shop mysteries and also launched her first scrapbooking mystery, KEEPSAKE CRIMES in May 2003.

Theodosia Browning is the owner of Charleston's beloved Indigo Tea Shop, and an amateur sleuth who can't seem to stop solving crimes. A wild steeplechase through the Carolina low-country brings Theodosia face to face with a dead woman--and sparks the return of a boyfriend she never thought she'd see again.

While riding her horse in a race through the South Carolina Lowcountry, Theodosia Browning finds her arch nemesis, Abby Davis, dead. What's more, the victim's brother is Theodosia's old flame.

Who'd have guessed they'd be reunited through cold-blooded murder? Theodosia's investigation takes her from the Lowcountry thicket to the backstage maze of a darkened theater where a maestro of murder waits for the next cue. All proving that when it comes to high drama, Theodosia can give Verdi a run for his money.

BLACK BEANS & VICE -- by J B Stanley 

The Flab Five's creative new strategy to slim down? Hypnotherapy! And James has new motivation for laying off the Krispy Kremes: his adorable son Eliot and a re-kindled romance with his ex-wife. But someone doesn't approve, as evidenced by the gruesome "messages" threatening the happy family.

On top of this, two sudden deaths have occurred: a councilman and a young animal rights advocate. With guiltless grasshopper parfait to sustain them, the Flab Five team up to solve another delectable, food-filled mystery.

A cozy "village" mystery, Black Beans & Vice is the sixth book in the warm and wonderful Supper Club Mystery series.  Other Supper Club mysteries are Chili Con Corpses and The Battered Body.

Raised an antique-lover by her grandparents and parents, J B (Jennifer) Stanley also worked part-time in an auction gallery. An eBay junkie and food-lover, Stanley now lives in Richmond, Virginia with her husband, two young children, and three cats.

WORMWOOD -- A China Bayles Mystery by Susan Wittig Albert

It was not until she created the plucky China Bayles and her savory mysteries that Chicago-born Susan Wittig Albert developed her trademark series. She created China Bayles, a sleuth who jumped off the fast track at a big law firm to open a herb shop. Now Albert has written twelve China Bayles mysteries. Each book is named after a favorite herb.

"Herbs are about coming home, putting down roots, making connections," Albert reflects.

An avid gardener, she cultivates her own herbs, both culinary and ornamental, and never writes about one she hasn't grown. Also an avid researcher, Albert enjoys delving into ancient lore, medicinal uses and symbolic associations surrounding each "signature" herb. She then weaves intricate narrative tangles for her star sleuth and supporting cast of colorful characters.

The stress of working in a high-powered law firm in Houston started to get to China Bayles. So she packed her bags, moved to Pecan Springs, Texas, and opened an herb shop. But China learned that even small towns are spiced with murder.

In NIGHTSHADE, #16 in Berkley (Prime Crime) series featuring China Bales, China is still reeling from her father's death and has no interest in her halfbrother Miles's investigation. But when fate forces her to get involved, China realizes it's time to bring the past to light--or else it will haunt her forever. Then she discovers that Miles may be keeping secrets himself. How deep do the layers of secrecy go? And who has a stake in concealing a long-buried truth? Now, one fresh murder and several cold cases will force China Bayles to face her dark past.

In WORMWOOD (#17), China's friends and family are urging her to get some rest--and a Kentucky Shaker village seems the ideal place for it. At Mount Zion, China can assist with some herbal workshops--while absorbing all things Shaker, from their furniture to their peaceful ways.

But the restored modern version of the village, striving to become a popular tourist attraction, is plagued with misfortune and strife-- some of it the likely result of sabotage. China and her friend Martha are hoping to get to the bottom of it.

However, much like Shaker history itself, the case appears simpler at first than it is. There is tension behind the serene exterior. And after a shocking death occurs during her stay, China will plunge into the archives of another time to connect the sins of the past with a modern-day murder.

In HOLLY BLUES (#18) China Bayles is fit to spit when her husband's troubled ex-wife, Sally, shows up at her herb shop, claiming to be broke with nowhere else to turn. China isn't sure if it's the goodness of her heart or the scent of Christmas wreaths, but she invites Sally to stay.

Then China starts receiving menacing calls from an "ex" of Sally's, who seems to have a connection to the murder of her parents nearly a decade ago. With her P.I. husband out of town, it's up to China to weed out the truth behind whatever it is Sally's running from before danger catches up to all of them....

THE PUMPKIN MUFFIN MURDER -- A Fresh-Baked Mystery by Livia J. Washburn 

Phyllis loves to spend quality time with her grandson. She'll be taking him to a festival with hopes of winning the baking contest-now that her friendly competitor, Carolyn, is judging and not competing. But when a decorative scarecrow is actually a dead body in disguise, it's Phyllis's sleuthing skills that are needed.

The dead body is that of the festival's organizer- and his wife, Carolyn's friend, falls under suspicion. Carolyn turns to Phyllis for help, because who's better at dishing out some justice than a baker extraordinaire who can handle the heat...

DELICIOUS AND SUSPICIOUS -- A Memphis BBQ Mystery by Riley Adams

Welcome to Aunt Pat's barbecue restaurant, which serves up Memphis fun with a side order of murder. Named in honor of Lulu Taylor's great aunt, Aunt Pat's family-run Memphis restaurant is known for its ribs and spicy cornbread. But now the Taylor family will be known for murder...

Rebecca Adrian came to Memphis to suss out the best local BBQ for a prominent Cooking Channel Show. Trouble is, a mystery ingredient has killed her-and now all fingers are pointing to Aunt Pat's restaurant. Horrified that her family is being accused of murder, Lulu fires up her investigative skills to solve the crime before someone else gets skewered.

Recipes included.  First in the Memphis BBQ Series.

Cranky but lovable sleuth Agatha Raisin’s detective agency has become so successful that she wants nothing more than to take quality time for rest and relaxation. But as soon as she begins closing the agency on weekends, she remembers that when she has plenty of quality time, she doesn’t know what to do with it. So it doesn’t take much for the vicar of a nearby village to persuade her to help publicize the church fete---especially when the fair’s organizer, George Selby, turns out to be a gorgeous widower.

Agatha brings out the crowds for the fete, all right, but there’s more going on than innocent village fun. Several of the offerings in the jam-tasting booth turn out to be poisoned, and the festive family event becomes the scene of two murders.

Along with her young and (much to her dismay) pretty sidekick, Toni, Agatha must uncover the truth behind the jam tampering, keep the church funds safe from theft, and expose the nasty secrets lurking in the village---all while falling for handsome George, who may have secrets of his own.

BUSY BODY -- An Agatha Raisin Mystery by M C Beaton 

Agatha Raisin has never been one for enforced holiday cheer, but her friendly little village of Carsely has always prided itself on its traditional Christmas festivities.

But this year the bells will not be ringing out Silent Night as Mr John Sunday, an officer with the Cotswold Health and Safety Board, has chosen Christmas as the time to crack down what he sees as gross misconduct by every man, woman, and child in the vicinity. The village shop is told it can no longer have wooden shelves which have been there since the time of Queen Victoria 'in case someone is inflicted with a splinter'.

The village school is ordered to leave lights on at night 'to prevent unauthorized intruders from tripping in the dark'. And children are warned to not play with 'counterfeit banknotes' after passing around toy money in the playground. But finally Mr Sunday goes too far when he rules that there cannot be a Christmas tree atop the church tower this year. Soon after the decree and just before Christmas, Agatha is sipping a cup of tea and trying to stay awake as minute by minute of the Carsely Ladies Society meeting at the vicarage drones on when a sudden scream wakes her from her stupor.

The ladies rush out of the building and into the garden to find Sunday lying face down in the petunias, very much dead. Agatha is instantly on the case, but with so many people having threatened the life of the victim, it's almost impossible to know where to start.

And see...

THE GREAT AUTHORS OF NORTH-WEST MOUNTIE FICTION  A review of the writers who gave us the best Mountie Fiction of the North-West Mounted Police: Ian Anderson, James Oliver Curwood, T Lund, Ryerson Johnson, James B Hendryx and others...

DOGS IN LITERATURE & HOLLYWOOD   From Jack London's THE CALL OF THE WILD to David Wroblewski's THE STORY OF EDGAR SAWTELLE, a review of the great classic realistic dog stories...

CHEFS, DOGS, MOUNTIES & DREAMSTUDY: The Complete Articles of Brian Alan Burhoe

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