Too Many Cooks

Angie Amalfi #2

by Joanne Pence

After talking her way into a job on a pompous, third-rate chef's radio call-in-show, Angie Amalfi has visions of a new career to go along with her hot, new romance with Paavo Smith, a gorgeous homocide detective.

When a successful and much-envied restauranteur is poisoned however, Angie finds the case far more interesting than trying to make her pretentious boss sound good. Some cooks might shy away from such a sizzling case, but Angie can take the heat and stay in the kitchen.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Cozy

352 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published September 1, 1994

About the author

Joanne Pence is a USA Today best-selling and award winning author of two mystery series, contemporary and historical romance, fantasy and thrillers. She is the author of the Angie Amalfi culinary mystery series, which is still in print after twenty years, and now has 15 books (the latest, COOKING SPIRITS was an April 2013 release), and a novella (Cook's Christmas Capers, Dec. 2013). She has just begun a new series, the Rebecca Mayfield mysteries. ONE O'CLOCK HUSTLE is the first full-length novel, and THE THIRTEENTH SANTA is a novella which shows how the two main characters met.

Joanne's books have won many awards and honors, including RWA's Golden Heart and Rita Award nominations, the Independent Book Seller's Golden Quill, the Daphne du Maurier award, the Willa Cather Literary Award in Historical Fiction (for DANCE WITH A GUNFIGHTER), and the Idaho Top Fiction Award for ANCIENT ECHOES.

Joanne was born and raised in San Francisco and now makes her home in the foothills of Boise. She has been president of the Boise chapter of Sisters in Crime, a founder and board member of the Popular Fiction Association of Idaho, and founding member and current board member of the Idaho Writers Guild. A graduate of U.C. Berkeley with a master's degree in journalism, Joanne has written for magazines, worked for the federal government, and taught school in Japan.

Reviews

[Amber J Roman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I seriously can never put down an Angie Amalfie Mystery, however, I get frustrated whenever Paavo expresses his love towards Angie then yet turns around and acts in a completely different way. I think that he needs to manage his feelings and stabilize himself if he really loves Angie, and cares for their relationship. When they are together though, it’s the most intimate. I hope they’re forever. Athough Paavo can be frustrating, it makes figuring out how their relationship will work out the more you read. It truly is a mystery!

[Lynnette · Rating 3 out of 5]

If I could give half stars I'd have rated this book 2.5 stars. The murder mystery itself was an interesting and engaging story. I did not, however, much like the main character. Angie Amalfi is impetuous and naive, which are traits that make sense for the character. However, some of her actions cross over from impetuous to childish and from naive to downright ridiculous. I also felt like the author was more interested in writing a romance than a mystery, but that's perhaps because romance is not among my favorite genres so it seemed to me like there was too much time spent on that aspect of the tale.

[Sandy Voegtlen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like Angie, but her romantic problems are annoying and highly unrealistic. I hope she gets her act together soon.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the story but Angie's decisions were really irritating at times. Its like she lacks all common sense compared to a normal person's decisions about shady stuff and snooping. That being said I'm interested in seeing how the series will progress. This time around we were introduced to Angie's dad and it looks like Paavo has a new partner. He's a bit of a jerk when it comes to Angie but seems decent enough overall. I'm definitely going to continue with the Angie Amalfi series.

[Cheryl A Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one took a while to get going - I think it’s good to read these I order - I knew things from a later book, that made it a little hard with this one. Plan to read more - I really like the characters.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Angie is getting involved in Detective Paavo's murder investigation again. Only this time a friend of the family is also murdered.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun

The heroine would drive me crazy if she were in my life but it's fun to see how her mind works. Her relationships are dizzying to follow.

[Kelly McCarthy Ziemba · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fast and fun mystery. I feel like I am becoming invested in this series! 😁

[Kei · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reading this book irritated me to no end. But I still felt like I at least had to see it to the end.
This will be my last Angie Amalfi book.
Angie is just not a type of main character I care to read about.
And then there's the fact that once again the biggest mystery of this book was how can she and her boyfriend be together. And that's not my impression. The plot of this book was overwhelmed and ruled by instances of 1) Paavo being angsty and looking for reasons to break up with her; 2) her relatives telling her that she should break up with the inappropriate guy and do something with her life (become a housewife); 3) all detectives having nothing better to do than comment on their relationship and repeatedly tell him to break up with her... And it goes on and on.
The mystery could have been interesting, if it wasn't completely buried under the mountains of completely stupid relationship angst.

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the second installment of the Angie Amalfi series, Angie gets a radio talk show job to a famous chef. When one famous restauranteur is found dead, the world is shocked. Everyone believed he committed suicide. But during the autopsy, they find out he was poisoned. Someone wanted him dead. As they get closer to the truth, another chef winds up dead. Things do get heated up and cooled down for Angie and Detective Paavo Smith, especially people interfere into their relationship, and when Angie ends up in trouble with a shocking twist. If you love cozies with romance, you'll enjoy this series.

[Deanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just can't seem to get into this book. I can't really explain why, but it wasn't the type of book that made me want to keep coming back to find out what happened next. The basic story line seemed like it would be good, but it just didn't do it for me. I made it 2/3 of the way through the book, but can't go any further. I don't have the desire to.

[Lola · Rating 1 out of 5]

Well there goes another author. And I was really enjoying this book and then the she had to ruined it for me. The book really is not about the mystery/crime that needs to be solved, it is about the relationship between the two main characters. I guess that should have clued me in that bedroom scene would be coming. Can't make the plot work without it.

[Missy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of the few series books I have read that have made the heroine unlikable. I will give this series one more try with the next book and if it's not to my liking, I will release the whole series.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good second entry in the series. I can't wait to see what happens next.

[Deb Sharp · Rating 5 out of 5]

The main character in this series is one of my fave, she reminds me of another character I love Stephanie Plum :)

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

i love this book and cant wait rto read more of the angie amalfi series

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

okay, thought it would have recipes too - but nothing in this one. A later one had recipes in it though. This was a good cozy mystery.

[Nicole Girolomo · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fast paced mystery with some romance. A fun read.

[Adrienne Renner]

E books are too expensive.