In this delectable debut mystery, former attorney Claire trades courtrooms for kitchens, hoping to whip up a new life as a private chef. But when she returns to California with an unexpected French accent—a peculiar souvenir from a traumatic bombing in DC—she finds herself embroiled in a case more complex than any bouillabaisse.
Catering her best friend's wedding at a lavish mansion should have been the perfect fresh start. Instead, it becomes a recipe for disaster when the host—a contestant on a cutthroat fashion reality show—is found dead. With the authorities floundering, it's up to Claire to unravel this couture crime.
Can she sift through the clues, outsmart the suspects, and serve justice before the killer strikes again? In 'Threads of Deception,' Elle Jauffret stitches together a mouth-watering mystery that will leave readers hungry for more!
Thirty-five-year-old Claire Fontaine had it all as a successful D.C. defense attorney until a criminal explosion shattered her career and left her with a debilitating French foreign accent syndrome. To make matters worse, her neurologist ordered her to take a break from the law and the FBI urged her to lay low. She's also broke. Her only marketable skill is the culinary expertise she's gained through countless cooking classes for singles. Forced to embrace a new path as a private chef, Claire accepts the invitation of a rising fashion designer friend to move back to her Southern California hometown to…
Cathy Wiley continues to create a mouthwatering journey to follow when Jackie Norwood, a former celebrity chef rebuilding her career, judges at the Lentil Festival in gorgeous Washington state. As always, I love the humor between her and her close-knit friend circle. You really believe that these people would do anything for each other. Unfortunately, that often seems to involve solving the murders that follow Jackie at these various food festivals. I remain amazed at Wiley's creativity in developing these food festivals across the country, and it's so fun to vicariously travel along with the team. I can't wait to see where we're heading next!
Pulses are racing in Holland, Washington, as it kicks off its "third annual" Lentil Festival. Jackie Norwood, former celebrity chef turned food festival judge, is excited to sample the town’s culinary creations—but she quickly discovers that Holland's lentil dishes come with a side of secrets and deception.. Amid the half-truths and lies, she hears unsettling reports about a prom queen who mysteriously disappeared twelve years earlier. Holland’s friendly facade begins to crumble, revealing information the locals would rather keep buried.. When Jackie stumbles across shocking evidence that the missing girl never left town, she’s drawn into the mystery—one that might…
Lynda Allen's debut mystery FLASHES OF INSIGHT hooked me from the beginning. I wish I could share more about the plot, but I don't want to give anything away about her ingenious way of creating and solving the puzzle. Just trust me when I say her originality and creativity is delightful! I can definitely share that Liv is a strong woman with a really creative voice. Be warned that this is a "Jersey" cozy, as Liv hails from there, and her perimenopausal self can take over with some strong language and hysterical comments. Personally I found her truly relatable. I also loved exploring the charming town and rich history of Fredericksburg, Virginia, making me want to head down there soon for a weekend trip. But even if you can't, you'll get a great vicarious trip.
Mood swings and insomnia are one thing, hot flash-induced psychic visions are quite another. When Olivia Wilde realizes the visions she's been experiencing in the midst of hot flashes are actually premonitions, she has to learn to understand and trust what she sees in order to help a friend, preserve a piece of history, and save a life.
Deftly weaving together elements of history, mystery, menopause, humor, some Jersey girl attitude, a bit of salty language, and a healthy dose of female friendship, Flashes of Insight marks the start of a new "Jersey Cozy"* series sure to deliver laughter, intelligence,…
***Winner of the Agatha Award for Best First Mystery Novel***
Rare books librarian Juniper Blume knows this much… an ancient Celtic manuscript shouldn’t be in a Maryland cemetery. But that’s exactly what her brother-in-law claims.
Last year, Juniper saw the 1,200-year-old Book of Kells in Ireland. She learned how their bejeweled covers were stolen centuries ago, never to be seen again. So how could they have ended up in Rose Mallow, a small Chesapeake Bay town? Being Jewish, the Book of Kells might not be her sacred text, but as a rare books librarian, the ancient book is still sacred to her, making it important to Juniper to find out the truth.
Rose Mallow is the same place where Juniper used to summer with her sister Azalea and their grandmother Zinnia, known as Nana Z. Ever since Nana Z passed away, Juniper’s avoided returning, but her curiosity is greater than her grief, so she heads down in her vintage convertible with her rescue dog Clover.
Juniper discovers that her sister Azalea has transformed their grandmother’s Queen Anne style mansion into the Wildflower Inn, backing up to the Chesapeake Bay. Although Juniper isn’t much of a cook, Azalea has kept their grandmother’s legacy alive, filling the house with the smells of East European Jewish treats, like sweet kugels and tzimmes cake. Will coming back here feel like returning home or fill Juniper with a deeper sorrow? Can she apologize to her sister for not being there when she was needed most?
