The Secret Ingredient Murders

Eugenia Potter #6

by Nancy Pickard

A DINNER TO DIE FOR

Summoned from her Arizona ranch to take charge of her teenage great-nephew and his twin sister, Genia Potter takes a rental on the Rhode Island coast. Old acquaintance Stanley Parker is only too happy to welcome her. And soon Genia is busily preparing for the tasting party that she and Stanley are hosting that evening at her cottage.

An avid cook and recipe collector, Stanley has already roped Genia into collaborating on The Secret Ingredient Cookbook, chock-full of Rhode Island culinary mysteries. Now is their chance to test some recipes and solicit others from each of the invited. Stanley has carefully selected six guests. And each has been asked to contribute a recipe with one secret ingredient. Genia asks no questions–until the lobster bisque is cold and all but one are present. Where is Stanley? Dead. And unlamented. Has one of the guests concocted a secret recipe for murder? Everyone has a motive. And everyone has a secret–including Genia’s troubled great-nephew, the prime suspect. . .

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Cozy, Food, Culinary, Mystery Thriller

304 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Nancy Pickard is an American crime novelist. She received a degree in journalism from the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri and began writing at age 35.

She has won five Macavity Awards, four Agatha Awards, an Anthony Award, and a Shamus Award. She is the only author to win all four awards. Her novel The Virgin of Small Plains, published in 2007, won an Agatha Award. She also served on the board of directors of the Mystery Writers of America.

Reviews

[Ed · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the following things while I was reading this culinary cozy:
1. Sleuth writes down her thoughts while developing each murder suspect.
2. Food theme is nicely woven into the mystery plot.
3. Kept me guessing until the end who the killer was.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

For some reason, I just couldn't get into this book. I like the main character, Eugenia Potter. I guess what I didn't like was the way she jumped in to solve the crime. Why couldn't the police do it? For a 'amateur detective' story to work, the person has to have a good reason to be investigating the crime. I just didn't care who murdered Stanley, and I didn't buy Genia as the detective on the case.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great cozy mystery set in a small town.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hi

[Avid Series Reader · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Secret Ingredient Murders by Nancy Pickard is the 6th book of the Eugenia Potter mystery series set in contemporary Rhode Island. Genia travels from her Arizona ranch to visit Rhode Island when her niece requests help with her teenagers: great-nephew Jason and twin sister. Genia extends her expected brief visit, and rents a lovely cottage overlooking the ocean. She reconnects with an old acquaintance, her wealthy and autocratic neighbor Stanley Parker. Genia agrees to publish a cookbook with him of Rhode Island local recipes.

Jason works in Stanley's greenhouse, and great-niece Janie is learning to cook with Genia. Their father is an artist who lives by himself on an island owned by Stanley.

Stanley requests that Genia hold a dinner party with specific guests, and ask each guest to bring a dish with a secret ingredient. Stanley has ulterior motives. He plans to reveal each dinner guest's secrets. But he never arrives at the dinner party.

Genia's nephew is suspected of Stanley's murder. She fervently believes in his innocence, despite the gossip in town. She investigates each of the dinner party guests, to learn if any has a motive. She learns that Stanley had many enemies; now she must determine which is a murderer. At first Genia is only trying to prove Jason's innocence, but as she uncovers many secrets, the murderer attempts to kill Genia as well.

Includes recipes for Lobster Bisque, Blue Suede Soup, Tuna in Phyllo, Apples in Jackets.

[Shirley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stanley has convinced newcomer Genia to collaborate with him on a secret ingredient cookbook. Stanley is one of the most influential characters. He gives, but only when he gets in return. That has earned him many an enemy. On his way to a dinner party he 'encouraged' her to host for a specific group of people he has hand-picked, Stanley is murdered. Most of the guests feign sadness at the news, all but Genia. As she learns more and more about Stanley, she soon realizes one of her guests was probably the murderer. When her nephew is considered a suspect, she investigates using Stanley's personal secret ingredient cookbook as a guide to question her guests.

Interesting characters and plot. Genia seems rather mild-mannered and calm for a sleuth, but very supportive and loving to her extended family.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Secret Ingredient Murders" is my first Eugenia Potter cozy mystery. I found it to be a cute quick read.

Who killed Stanley Parker? The mystery will take you on Genia's journey to figure out which of several of the towns high society residents had a reason or motive to want the crank, bossy old man dead.

As much as my family and I love to cook and entertain, I enjoyed how the story line played out around family, friends, food and recipes.

Will definitely take a look at other books in this series.

[Cindy Cobleigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

While it is certainly the intent to have the story focus around cooking, it does not feel labored. The use of common idioms and everyday tasks/events makes it a comfortable read while still keeping the suspense going on the "who done it" part.

While the recipes are a nice additional, some of them reflect the highly accomplished skills possessed by Eugenia - interesting to read but perhaps not make.

[Audrey McAlister · Rating 3 out of 5]

A likable main character but somewhat predictable and anticlimactic plot. There were also a few unnecessary subplots that distracted me from the mystery. I didn't really like the way the main character conducted her "detective work" either. It was all complete guesswork and luck. She didn't have any skills that helped her solve the mystery.
Still, it held my attention, and I enjoyed the cast of diverse characters.

[Denise Goodkey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an 'okay' murder mystery. I liked that when the murderer was revealed, it wasn't totally out of left field as seems to be the case with so many murder mysteries. There were enough clues in the last two or three chapters prior to the reveal that made it plausible and satisfying.

Some parts of the book just went on too long.

[Janet York · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun book. Great characters. I figured out who did it, but I didn’t mind. I liked it enough that I bought a previous book by the authors at a recent book sale. The recipes were interesting, but I don’t think I have the culinary talent to make them. However, if the author ever wants to try them out on me, I’d be a willing participant.

[Debbie Berris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charming Who-Done-It

This was the first mystery by Nancy Pickard for me and I plan to read more. I loved the character of wise Genoa and the setting of the book on Narragansett Bay. The mystery kept me guessing to the end.

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun, cozy mystery set in Rhode Island , with an interesting main character in Eugenia Potter.
I liked the interwoven food element and the recipes included in the book look yummy.
Will look for more books in this series as I liked Genie and her philosophy for life !
Good read!

[Brenda Bignall ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good mystery! 🕵🏻‍♀️

Great characters. Well paced. So many options for the killer. Kept me guessing! 🤔 Definitely recommend! 💯%. Don't miss out on this fun and thoughtful story! 😅❤️✨

[Lynn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was looking for a fluff read, and this fit the bill. Not a bad story, but not overly deep. A quick read.

[Shuaib Segiru · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice book full of suspense,never could have imagined who the killer was

[Barbra · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick read, good plotting and a surprise ending that I didn't see coming.

[Rosemary Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy this series. There is lots of growth in the characters and a fun mystery to solve.

[Linda Przybylek · Rating 4 out of 5]

a delightful read - light and quite interesting...

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quotable:

Nobody ever helped a drunk by making it too easy for him.

I couldn't tell a van Gogh from a Dodge van.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A deliciously twisted tale with a plethora of divine-sounding recipes thrown in, as well. A little more violence than I care for, but (if one can say such a thing) fairly tastefully described.

[Gerry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not good enough to warrant reading more in the series.

[Bobbie Kovach · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cozy little mystery!! On his way to a dinner party at Genia’s house, Stanley is murdered. He was about to reveal a killer in their midst. Who was it?

[Gene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful and complex with great characters but not all the recipes I want.

[☆5POINTZZZ☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was hoping for more of a mystery detective vibe than a cozy one but it was def cutes for what it was

[Dharia Scarab · Rating 1 out of 5]

Found it for .50 and decided to give the series another try. Still not for me. I dislike the multiple points of view and the writing style.


Since I don't normally write reviews unless I have something specific to say, here's the break down of how I rate my books...

1 star... This book was bad, so bad I may have given up and skipped to the end. I will avoid this author like the plague in the future.

2 stars... This book was not very good, and I won't be reading any more from the author.

3 stars... This book was ok, but I won't go out of my way to read more, But if I find another book by the author for under a dollar I'd pick it up.

4 stars... I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be on the look out to pick up more from the series/author.

5 stars... I loved this book! It has earned a permanent home in my collection and I'll be picking up the rest of the series and other books from the author ASAP.

[Marti · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was amusing enough. I couldn't really warm up to Eugenia (Genia) Potter as the heroine of the story. Not only was there more than one murder, but there was also a teenage boy who had dabbled in marijuana, an alcoholic realtor, and the wife of a television weatherman who embezzled funds to pay for her expensive clothes. The book is set in Rhode Island, with the murder of Stanley Parker occurring as he was on the way to a dinner party which he had persuaded Genia to give with specified guests. There are several recipes at the end of the book. The next reader can decide if they are worth copying.

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just finished reading this Eugenia Potter mystery and I was impressed that it took me till the last chapter to figure out who murdered who and it wasn't who I thought it might be. The book started out with background and I had trouble with it as I wasn't reading much and then leaving it. When I stuck with it I really liked the story and could see why people were put off by Stanley and why he was murdered. The characters all had motives and the cooking was connected but not the major part with a few recipes at the end. I would recommend it to mystery readers.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stanley Parker, a retired banker, is used to running his little corner of New England. But apparently he's gone too far--someone has murdered Stanley. Genia Potter is visiting New England for family reasons, and when her great-nephew becomes a suspect in Stanley's death, she feels she must take a hand in the investigation. All of the dinner guests at Genia's the night of the murder have motives, and so do a few other prominent members of the community. But they all seem such likeable people!

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just finished the book tonight and enjoyed reading it. I did figure out who commited the murders before the end. The recipes and cooking were nicely woven in with the story. This was my first Eugenia Potter mystery and I plan to read some of the earlier books by Virginia Rich the originator of the Eugenia Potter character since she was one of the first writers of the culinary mystery sub genre.