A Steak in Murder

Hemlock Falls Mysteries #7

by Claudia Bishop

Having sold the Inn at Hemlock Falls, Sarah and Meg Quilliam find themselves returning to the scene of the crime when the new owner hosts a gathering of Texas cattlemen and one of the guests turns up dead. Original.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Audiobook, Amateur Sleuth

252 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published July 1, 1999

About the author

Claudia Bishop is the nom de plume of mystery & fantasy author Mary Stanton.

Reviews

[Versel Rush · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book was okay but this was an audiobook and the reader was terrible: voices not distinguishable enough and the accents were terrible.

[Marty · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two sisters, Sarah Quilliam and her sister Meg (a well-known chef) have sold their beloved Inn because of financial problems and now run a small but charming restaurant in the town. Sarah dreams of being able to buy the Inn back. The Inn, meanwhile has changed from charming to pop-culture; from fine wine to beer, and the rose garden has been turned into a coral for long-horned cattle. A group of Texans are trying to make Long-horned beef a popular menu item. Unfortunately, people start dying…………. I thought the story a bit far-fetched, but an OK read.

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Desperate to buy back the Inn at Hemlock Falls, the Quilliam sisters face a devastating setback when a TV producer is murdered on the premises.
A very interesting read. Loved the characters. I figured out who was the killer just by looking at all the players personalities. It was a no brainer. 5 stars.

[Nan Hurley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Quite a few mistakes in this one. Within the first few pages it was June and July.
Quill went for a walk with her dog, shortly after drove home, no mention of dog.
Since when do apple trees bloom in July?
Distractions that interrupt the story and take some of the fun out of reading the book.

[D.L. · Rating 3 out of 5]

These characters grow on you (like a fungus) because I liked them better in this book than in a book I read from earlier in the series. But that said, the book was still not exactly my cup of tea. The series is just not very compelling, and this particular story had some racist elements to it that made me uncomfortable.

[Elliot · Rating 2 out of 5]

More of an experiment in borrowing an audiobook from the library's Palace Project app (where did they come up with this name?) than a serious read. The app worked fine, though limited to my phone rather than an MP3 player. The mystery was cozy; I thought the narrator was more than adequate.

[Patricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Claudia Bishop’s A Steak in Murder, part of the popular “Hemlock Falls Mysteries” series, offers a delicious blend of cozy mystery, culinary charm, and small-town intrigue that will satisfy both mystery lovers and fans of foodie fiction.

[Kayla Watts · Rating 3 out of 5]

I began this series on book #7 due to availability at my library. It was enjoyable and I recommend it, however I feel strongly it would be better to begin with book #1 in this series.

[Johnmarilyn Rivera · Rating 4 out of 5]

The plot was a little confusing. Lots of characters and confusing/too technical issues about cows. But, love the main characters and their relationships.

[Kathy Albright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great!!

[Wanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good cozy. Meg and Quill have sold the Inn to Marge but Quill is now regretting doing so after seeing what changes Marge has made. After a convention of cattlemen from Texas come to town and start causing problems and one dies Quill gets involved solving the murder and two subsequent murders and helping figure out the reasons behind them. She also plots to get the Inn back while dealing with her boyfriend being away.

[Emily Cullen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book #7 of this cozy mystery series (Hemlock Falls) finds Sarah "Quill" Quilliam knowing she's made a big mistake in selling the inn that she owned with her sister, Meg. A group of Texas Longhorn cattleman are in town and when one dies of a heart attack and other strange things start happening, Quill can't help investigating. I wasn't too interested in the mystery this time around but there is an interesting romance going on that is enough for me to move on to book #8.

[Diane Wachter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hemlock Falls Mystery, Bk 7, Claudia Bishop, PB-B @ 1999, 2/08. The sisters have sold their Inn, and opened a restaurant, but decide they missed the Inn and want it back. Texas longhorn cattlemen are in town trying to get the locals to raise Texas longhorns, when several murders take place and the sisters get to work. Okay.

[Gloria Mccracken · Rating 4 out of 5]

The plot was a little overcomplicated and not as plausible as it should have been in this otherwise delightful and entertaining series.

[Gerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

The steaks from Texas Long horn cattle are supposed to be really good for you. But in this case, they are leading to murder!

[Barb · Rating 3 out of 5]

OK, easy listening, not totally believable, but still pretty fun

[Patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series.

[Evelyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun cozy series.

[Pam Bales · Rating 3 out of 5]

Culinary cozy mystery, set in Hemlock Falls, interesting characters, good story line. A fan of cozies? Give it a try.

[Vicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first book from PBS. I'm glad I joined.