15 October 2011

Weekend Cooking: Six Sweet Scary Suggestions

Weekend Cooking is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book (novel, nonfiction) reviews, cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, fabulous quotations, photographs. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up over the weekend. You do not have to post on the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page. For more information, see the welcome post.

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What's October without some mysterious reading? And what's a Saturday without something foodie? Today is all about eating your way through murder. And, by the way, today is also the second anniversary of Weekend Cooking. Thanks to all of you for helping make it a success.

Here are a half dozen tasty choices—all from Penguin Group (USA). In fact the Berkley Prime Crime Mystery imprint publishes quite a few great cozies, including many culinary mysteries. Dig in to these delicious devilish delights.

Liz Lipperman's debut novel, Liver Let Die, introduces food columnist Jordan McAllister, based in small-town Texas. Poor Jordan didn't know that food writing could be so dangerous. Be sure to check out the recipes in this Clueless Cook Mystery; Ray's Pumpkin Pie Crunch and Alex's Tex-Mex Breakfast Casserole both sound good. (Berkley Prime Crime, ISBN-13: 9780425244043, October 2011)
Jordan McAllister can’t cook her way out of a macaroni & cheese box, but filling in for the culinary reporter at The Ranchero Globe is better than writing personal ads. Her first assignment to review the new steakhouse in town is a disaster that ends with her waiter murdered outside her door—with her name and number in his pocket. Now Jordan is the prime suspect, as well as the main course on the murder menu.
Lost and Fondue, by Avery Aames is the second entry in the Cheese Shop Mystery series. Charlotte Bessette lives in Ohio and owns Fromagerie Bessette. Aames's first in this series, The Long Quiche Goodbye, won an Agatha Award for Best First Novel. Recipes at the back of the book include a couple for (of course) fondue. (Berkley Prime Crime, ISBN-13: 9780425241585, May 2011)
The fair town of Providence has settled down to normal after last year’s murder. Jonquils are in bloom. The Cheese Shop is thriving. and Charlotte’s romance with Jordan is flourishing. But when her friend, Meredith, decides to throw a fund-raiser to create a liberal arts college out of a long-abandoned winery—a winery that is rumored to hold not only buried bodies but buried treasure—Charlotte’s joie de vivre deflates like a bad souffle. Charlotte’s fears are realized when an art student is found dead in the wine cellar, and Meredith’s niece is the main suspect.
The third title in Jenn McKinlay's Cupcake Bakery Mysteries is Death by the Dozen. Bakery owners Melanie Cooper and Angie DeLaura are based in Arizona, and murder and mayhem seem to follow in their tracks. Bakers will find recipes for several yummy treats, including chocolate chili cupcakes (yum!). (Berkley Prime Crime, ISBN-13: 9780425244050, October 2011)
Melanie and Angie are determined to win the Challenge to the Chef to promote their Fairy Tale Cupcakes bakery. Mel’s mentor from culinary school, Vic Mazzotta, may be one of the judges, but Mel and Angie will have to win fair and square. But, when Vic’s dead body is found inside a freezer truck, Mel and Angie will need to use their best judgment to find the cold-blooded killer or they may lose more than the contest—they may lose their lives.
Just in time for Halloween we have Krista Davis's newest Domestic Diva Mystery, The Diva Haunts the House. This series stars Sophie Winston, an event planner in Virginia. Her job exposes her to all kinds of people, including killers. Davis's The Diva Runs Out of Thyme, was a finalist for an Agatha Award for Best First Novel. The recipes are perfect for October and will delight the kids, with names such as Bat Cave Risotto, and Chicken Scaryaki. (Berkley Prime Crime, ISBN-13: 9780425243787, September 2011)
Domestic diva Sophie Winston is getting into the Halloween spirit—her decorations for a community haunted house are so good, it’s scary. Not to be outdone, rival domestic diva Natasha is throwing a spooktacular Halloween party at her house. But when Sophie arrives, she discovers one of Natasha’s guests dead in a Halloween display, and a pale, fanged partygoer fleeing the scene. Could the killer be a real vampire—the same one rumored to have lived in Sophie’s haunted house back when it was a boardinghouse? Good thing a domestic diva never runs out of garlic.
As the chill of fall sets in, warm up with B. B. Haywood's Town in a Lobster Stew. This is the second time Candy Holiday—a blueberry farmer on the coast of Maine—finds herself in the middle of mystery. Recipes include several versions of lobster stew and chowder. Where's my spoon? (Berkley Prime Crime, ISBN-13: 9780425240014, Februrary 2011)
Things start to boil over at the annual Lobster Stew Cook-Off when an award-winning recipe is stolen and a seven-time contest champion mysteriously disappears—leaving Candy no choice but to find out who in Cape Willington, Maine, would get steamed enough to break the law.
What's a murder mystery without a little chocolate? JoAnna Carl's The Chocolate Castle Clue is the eleventh in the poplular Chocoholic Mysteries starring Lee McKinney, who makes her chocolate goodies in Michigan. No recipes in this book, but the descriptions of sweet treats will make you raid your chocolate stash. (Obsidian, ISBN-13: 9780451234742, October 2011)
Lee McKinney Woodyard discovers a dusty trophy inside TenHuis Chocolade that belongs to her aunt Nettie and her old high school singing group, the Pier-O-Ettes. It’s a trophy that brings back terrible memories of an unsolved murder years ago. Before Lee takes aim at the past, someone is murdered in the here and now. Lee needs to keep her eyes on the prize, hoping the trophy is a clue to finding the killer—before she’s a target herself.
Lots to satisfy the murder mystery–loving foodie in us all.

32 comments:

TheBookGirl 10/15/11, 6:48 AM  

Culinary mysteries are my favorite cozies. I love Jenn McKinlay's cupcake series, and I knew about Carl's chocolate ones, but the rest are new to me. I am especially exicted to see Liver Let Die because it is the first installment and I always like to start a series from the beginning if I can.
Berkley Prime Crime is the best!

Louise 10/15/11, 6:58 AM  

I should love these books, combining food and reading as they do. I've only read one, and it was a number of years ago, and while I liked it well enough, I'd much rather read other books. I know lots of people seem to love them though.

Dawn @ sheIsTooFondOfBooks 10/15/11, 7:22 AM  

Some of those titles crack me up (hey, an egg pun?) - "Liver Let Die" - ha!

Cozies are the mysteries I enjoy most - not too scary and quite a bit fun. Thanks for the tasty selections.

Dorte H 10/15/11, 7:39 AM  

Ah, finally a weekend cooking post for me!

These treats look delicious :)

Beth 10/15/11, 7:50 AM  

Happy Anniversary! I've enjoyed playing along more times than not :-D

Deborah 10/15/11, 8:17 AM  

foodie cozy mysteries especially from Berkley Prime Crime are my weakness. i would "kill" for all those!!

Uniflame 10/15/11, 8:18 AM  

The covers of these books look really inviting, but I am not really the mystery kind of gal.

Marg 10/15/11, 8:24 AM  

I used to read a lot of these but haven't done for a few years now. These days I am more likely to read a historical themed cosy style mystery.

bermudaonion 10/15/11, 8:37 AM  

I love a good cozy and when it includes food, it's that much better!

Amanda 10/15/11, 8:41 AM  

I'm not usually a big mystery reader, but periodically I really enjoy those foodie cozies!

Peaceful Reader 10/15/11, 8:44 AM  

Never read one yet but the titles crack me up! Happy Weekend Cooking anniversary! I love playing along.

Chinoiseries 10/15/11, 9:23 AM  

Congratulations on the anniversary! It's a great meme and I love (just as everyone else ^^) participating.

Food and crime, love the combination. These books will do well on the rainy, fall days to come :)

Zibilee 10/15/11, 9:44 AM  

Happy Weekend Cooking anniversary! I love that you chose to spotlight so many cooking themed mysteries, and think they all sound so wonderful. I am a big foodie person, but have never read a mystery that incorporates food, go figure! It sounds like a few of these need to be on my shelf!

Heather S-G 10/15/11, 9:55 AM  

Oh, I love all of those suggestions. Culinary mysteries are my favorite :D

Julie P. 10/15/11, 9:55 AM  

Happy Anniversary. I've read about half of these and have a few more. They are a lot of fun!

Tami 10/15/11, 10:44 AM  

I love cozy mysteries - in fact I've read from a couple of these series. Thanks for some new suggestions.

Congrats on two years of Weekend Cooking - wonderful idea.

Anonymous,  10/15/11, 11:54 AM  

Congratulations on your anniversary. Wish I had found you sooner. Enjoying the Weekend Cooking feature. Inspires me to cook.

Nan 10/15/11, 12:11 PM  

First of all, congrats on the anniversary! Weekend Cooking has become an important and fun part of my own weekend. I love this weekly connection with foodies! Thank you for offering it, Miss Beth Fish!

I've seen a some of these mysteries on the same blog where I first discovered the Cleo Coyle Coffeehouse series:
http://www.mysteryloverskitchen.com/

I've also liked a few of the Joanna Fluke mysteries. I really do love a book that has recipes!

Rikki 10/15/11, 12:43 PM  

Great suggestions! I have never read a culinary mysery but have one on my TBR list. I will have a closer look at your list as I am getting into cosy mysteries again.

JoAnn 10/15/11, 12:47 PM  

Congratulations and Happy Anniversary to Weekend Cooking! Can't believe it's been two years. I love reading the posts and have discovered countless new recipes, cookbooks, books, movies, etc. The foodie mysteries all sounds delicious! Wish I had a post today to help celebrate:-(

Margot 10/15/11, 2:06 PM  

Mysteries and food - my favorite combination. There are a couple on your list that are new to me and I can't wait to find them.

Margot 10/15/11, 2:11 PM  

I meant to say Congratulations on two years with Weekend Cooking, I've loved participating and also reading everyone's posts. Thanks for your faithful sponsorship.

Margot 10/15/11, 2:59 PM  

Candace, Something went wrong in one of the links. Please disregard the one that just says Margot @ Quirky. The second one (Margit @ Quirky Girls Read) is correct. Thanks,

caite 10/15/11, 4:48 PM  

I am not sure that I have read a foodie cozy...but I should!

Heidenkind 10/15/11, 6:02 PM  

I love foodie mysteries! I'm a sucker for cute titles, too.

Gilion at Rose City Reader 10/15/11, 7:08 PM  

Happy Anniversary! I look forward to Weekend Cooking every week, even when i don't post. Love it!

I haven't read any foodie mysteries yet because I'm afraid I'll get hooked and I can only read so many books. But my sister (a chef) and my mom love them. The cheese chop series in particular looks like one they would enjoy.

Little Nell 10/16/11, 11:37 AM  

A little bit of history about a famous cookbook and my family’s connection to it!

Beth(bookaholicmom) 10/16/11, 2:29 PM  

I love the food cozies! I love it when they include the recipes too. These all look very good!

Leslie (Under My Apple Tree) 10/16/11, 6:51 PM  

Happy second anniversary. And thanks for highlighting some delicious delights! I just love the titles on the food cozies.

Unknown 10/16/11, 8:39 PM  

Lost and Fondue is my favorite title - that's really funny!

Michelle 10/29/11, 6:23 PM  

Happy anniversary! Congratulations on two great years of focussing on foodie related content. Here's to many more to come!

Unknown 10/30/11, 6:57 AM  

You picked some good ones! I can't wait to get to the latest cupcake mystery series book.

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