Hot Stuff

Stuff #6

by Don Bruns

An attractive sous chef at the famous restaurant L'Elfe Is murdered and half of the employees are suspect. The lack of police progress toward solving the murder leads Chef Jean Bouvier to seek a quicker solution. He hires private eyes James Lessor and Skip Moore to go undercover and discreetly investigate his restaurant staff. But their Investigation turns up far more than they bargained for. Skip's charming girlfriend, Emily, confesses that the murder victim and she had been close friends at one point in their lives and had shared a very dark secret. But Emily refuses to elaborate, building a wall of defense between herself and the two young detectives. The more James and Skip investigate the background of the victim and the people she knew, the more they are convinced that this shared secret has far-reaching implications that may lead to the motive for the murder. The closer they get to the answer, the more desperate someone is to stop them.

Genres: Mystery

288 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Don Bruns is a writer, novelist, musician, songwriter, painter, cook, advertising executive and stand up comic who has no idea what he wants to be when he grows up. He's the author of nine books and was editor of the mystery/music anthology A Merry Band Of Murderers.

Don's published novels cover two series. One, a Caribbean thriller collection and two, the Stuff series, a humorous look at two twenty-four year old guys in South Florida who start their own detective agency and end up neck - deep in trouble.

Jamaica Blue, Barbados Heat, South Beach Shakedown, St. Barts Breakdown and Bahama Burnout make up the Caribbean books. The Stuff series consists of Stuff To Die For, Stuff Dreams Are Made Of, Stuff To Spy For, and Don't Sweat The Small Stuff. Bruns is currently working on the fifth Stuff book, Too Much Stuff.

He currently resides on Florida's West coast.

Bahama Burnout/ Finalist, National Best Books Award - Mystery/Suspense 2009
South Beach Shakedown/ Winner National Best Books Award -Fiction/Suspense 2006
South Beach Shakedown/ Winner, Indie Excellence, 2006 Award - Mystery/Suspense
South Beach Shakedown/ Winner USA Book Award, 2006 - Mystery
Stuff Dreams Are Made Of/ Winner Indie Excellence Award 2009 - Mystery/Suspense
Stuff Dreams Are Made Of/IndieBound Notable, October 2008
Stuff Dreams Are Made Of/Winner Florida Writer's Association -
Stuff To Die For/ Starred review Booklist

Reviews

[Rick-Founder JM CM BOOK CLUB · Rating 5 out of 5]

"An attractive sous chef at the famous restaurant L'Elfe Is murdered and half of the employees are suspect. The lack of police progress toward solving the murder leads Chef Jean Bouvier to seek a quicker solution. He hires private eyes James Lessor and Skip Moore to go undercover and discreetly investigate his restaurant staff. But their Investigation turns up far more than they bargained for. Skip's charming girlfriend, Emily, confesses that the murder victim and she had been close friends at one point in their lives and had shared a very dark secret. But Emily refuses to elaborate, building a wall of defense between herself and the two young detectives. The more James and Skip investigate the background of the victim and the people she knew, the more they are convinced that this shared secret has far-reaching implications that may lead to the motive for the murder. The closer they get to the answer, the more desperate someone is to stop them"


I must say at the start that Don Bruns' "James Lessor and Skip Moore" series is among my very favorite series ever. I have read 5 of the 6 books and have a very deep attachment to the characters and books. They all are simply wonderful.

The newest book, HOT STUFF, is no different. It is a joy to read from start to finish. Like all of the books, HOT STUFF is narrated in the first person by Skip. Now, I must go more into detail about these two characters I am so very fond of. While one can compare them to a early 20's (They are both about 22-23 years old) year old Abbott & Costello or Laurel and Hardy..there is actually far more complexity to each. Skip is certainly the more level headed of the two, but not by much! He and James work as part-time detectives (More or Less Detective Agency) which barely pays for their food! Skip works full time selling security systems in a community "where nobody has anything worth securing!" James, who has a culinary degree works as a line cook at Capt' Crap yet fancies himself a gourmet chef! Skip's girlfriend Emily is really the true voice of reason.

James Lessor is one of the truly hilarious characters I have come across. He is like Ralph Kramdem..the first million is always just around the corner..yet Don Bruns makes him far more complex than a mere caricature. There is a very endearing and touching aspect to him, which complements his friendship with Skip and complete lack of comprehending that both are barely scraping by! The reason behind his innate fear towards all official departments of Law Enforcement is actually very touching...you have to read book to find out the reason why. Needless to say, you will find this charming ..never say die..rogue as endearing as Skip's girlfriend Emily finds him irratating!

This outing has the guys involved in the high end South Beach restuarant culture in search of the truth behind the murder of a sous-chef who is not exactly the person Emily, who was a good friend of hers, thought. Other books have the boys involved with homicidal "Carnies" (carnival workers) Preachers and treasure hunters.
The above synopsis provides a nice description of the plot..and I need not repeat it, only to say that you will be drawn in from the very beginning..this is NOT a book you will toss aside until you have turned the very last page!

While contemplating this review, I pondered on what genre Don Bruns' "Stuff Series of Books with Skip and James" would fall into.
Mystery?? Yes..there are certainly alot of twist and turns...Thriller?..certainly many ..hold your breath moments!..yet I hesitate to pigeon-hole this series into a single genre. I would feel most comfortable classifying HOT STUFF and the other books as "Evolving character studies of two very funny and touching people who somehow find themselves in all manner of trouble!" Whew! How is that for a genre!! Regardless. I can say that I cannot recommend HOT STUFF and ALL the Skip Moore and James Lessor books more highly!!!

AN OFFICIAL JAMES MASON COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB MUST READ

RICK FRIEDMAN
FOUNDER/MODERATOR
THE JAMES MASON COMMUNITYBOOK CLUB (6,600 MEMBERS)

[Kevintipple · Rating 5 out of 5]

HOT STUFF is the latest in a series that began with STUFF TO DIE FOR and another very well done mystery read. This one finds Skip and his longtime girlfriend, Em, out for the evening at L’Elfe in Miami. The French restaurant on Bayshore Drive is quite famous as its owner is Chef Jean Bouvier. Known for his signature television line, “But can you do this?” on cooking shows on the Food Network, his line of cookbooks, spices, cutlery, etc., Jean and his wife, Sophia, are celebrities and envied by many. Including James, Skip’s friend and business partner who, despite his own culinary degree and cooking promise, works for a fast food chain when he isn’t helping with security installations or investigations.

Both guys are still going nowhere fast and money is always an issue. That is until Em’s friend, Amanda Wright, is brutally killed by a dumpster at the back of L’Elfe while Em and Skip are inside having dinner. In fact, they had just seen her minutes earlier when Amanda had stopped by their table to tell them her great news. Amanda was the sous-chef and was being promoted to take over as executive chef at Bouvier’s new restaurant on South Beach, La Plage (The Beach). Now she is dead as a result of numerous stab wounds to the stomach using some sort of knife.

For various backstory reasons that gradually become clear over the course of the book, Em arranges with Chef Bouvier and his wife Sophia to put the investigative team of Skip Moore and James Lessor on the case. For six grand over two weeks, they will work the case with James going undercover in the restaurant to replace Amanda. His skills are a little rusty, but his culinary degree will gain him admittance and acceptance by a staff of suspects that will also be told that James “shows promise” and might be the new executive chef at La Plage. Em is to provide online research help and liaison with various contacts while Skip is to provide support as needed. It isn’t long before Skip is also inside working undercover at L’Elfe trying to find a killer and clearing James from being a murder suspect himself.

In a complicated book that spends plenty of time inside the restaurant and out, James, Skip, and Em have their hands full with the case and other matters. If you have read this series from the beginning, you know that is how Don Bruns keeps things going as he piles complications upon complications upon complications. Such is true here while also creating a read that once again is funny at times and suspenseful most of the time.

While HOT STUFF could be read as a stand alone, the book works much better if you have read the preceding books in the series so that you understand how the characters have evolved to this point. Billed as a thriller by the publisher, author Don Bruns takes readers on another very complicated mystery ride featuring some humor, plenty of suspense, and a long list of suspects. If it is not clear already, HOT STUFF is another very good book in a series that is consistently well done and worth your time.


HOT STUFF: A Novel
Don Bruns
http://www.donbrunsbooks.com
Oceanview Publishing
http://www.oceanviewpublishing.com
November 16, 2012
ISBN # 978-1-60809-061-7
Hardback
296 Pages
$25.95

ARC was supplied by the author in exchange for my objective review.


Kevin R. Tipple ©2012
Author of the e-book short story collection Mind Slices available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Smashwords in a variety of formats.

[Jerry King · Rating 3 out of 5]

2012

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy read.

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Warning: Don't read this book if you on a diet. It will make you hungry, hungry to read it non stop till the last page. This book is smokin.

[Sharon Mensing · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the sixth book in the Skip Moore/James Lessor series, though I didn’t feel that I was missing out on any important history by jumping into the series at this point. In fact, since Skip and James are both twenty-somethings who have not yet figured out what they want to be when they grow up, it surprises me that there are five books prior to this one. When, in their short and mostly unformed adult lives, did these two find time for five previous capers? And the two of them make many rookie mistakes and refer to themselves as novice detectives, so it is not apparent from this book that any previous detection has taken place.

“Hot Stuff” opens with a dinner date between Skip and his girlfriend, Em. Police discover the sous chef of the restaurant stabbed in the alley behind the restaurant where Skip and Em are dining, and coincidences abound when it turns out that the victim, Amanda, is a friend of Em’s from long ago. In fact, Em and Amanda had been implicated in the theft of a diamond ring as teenagers, and Amanda had taken the blame for Em. Em is now quite well-to-do, a major player in the construction company her father owns, and Amanda was very much an up-and-coming star in the chef world.

Coincidences continue to pile up as the policeman who investigated the diamond theft turns up as the lead detective in Amanda’s murder, and James is revealed to be a culinary school trained chef. James agrees to go undercover as the restaurant’s new sous chef, and Skip is roped into taking on the dishwasher’s role. Before the mystery of who killed Amanda is solved, James has the opportunity to follow his bliss as a chef and Skip learns how jealous of Em’s attentions he is (and how much he hates washing dishes).

I had so looked forward to reading this book, which is dedicated to the Food Channel. However, there was very little in the way of culinary description and a lot of post-adolescent angst about jobs, personal self-worth, and girlfriends. The writing was spotty, or perhaps it was the editing. Some of the sentences stopped me in my tracks (e.g., “If there was one thing this case didn’t need was another another murder.” p. 169). But then again, I’m a bit of a stickler for grammar, and I read word-for-word and like to savor authors’ descriptions.

The book was a quick read, but it was not something that will stick with me. The characters were a bit too adolescent for me, the food not well enough described, the murderer fairly obvious, and the uniqueness of the location unrealized. I don’t regret spending the time reading this book, but I won’t be out there searching for more in the series.

[Joanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is one of several about Skip Moore and James Lessor and their private investigating exploits, but this is the only one I have read. I didn't feel any lack for not having read the previous ones, however.

Skip and James have grandiose dreams of becoming rich and have started a private investigating firm, in addition to their regular jobs in which Skip sells security systems and James, a culinary major in college, is working at a fast-food restaurant. Skip is out to dinner with his long-time girlfriend, Emily, at a famous Miami restaurant owned by the celebrity chef Jean Bouvier where her girlfriend, Amanda, is the current sous chef and soon to be head chef at another of the famous chef's restaurant. The evening turns sour when Amanda is found brutally stabbed to death in the alley behind the restaurant. Not trusting the police to solve the murder, Bouvier hires the unlikely duo to go undercover and work in the restaurant to ascertain whether any of the employees there are responsible for the crime. James, with his culinary background, is passed off as a contender for the now vacant Executive Chef position Amanda was to take and Skip is put to work as a dishwasher.

I enjoyed the descriptions of the inner workings of the restaurant and the various personalities of the other employees, and Skip and James are likable enough characters bumbling along doing their best to solve the the mystery and gain fame and fortune in spite of their lack of experience in crime-solving. I didn't care for the way they're just drifting through life, though - working at jobs they're overqualified for and still living like frat boys while they dream of somehow striking it rich! Skip's relationship with his girlfriend is also amorphous. There were a lot of suspects, however, and I was somewhat surprised at the end of this rather comedic mystery.

[Victoria Allman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book sizzles with spice.

I had the privilege of reading an advanced copy of HOT STUFF and, like Don Bruns' other books in the Stuff Series, it explored a new scene, the restaurant world, with such well-researched accuracy that I felt I was in the kitchen sweating with James and Skip over the flames of the grill. What Bruns' and his two bumbling characters does best is create a new world in each book and thoroughly explore it. Maybe its because the two characters need to be "taught" everything, but the reader gets a thorough education of the world inside a kitchen and all its craziness. I love this about this series. I, along with Skip and James, learn something new with every book.

As a chef, I've spent a LOT of time in restaurant kitchens (luckily not ones where the sous-chef is murdered) and was impressed with Bruns' accurate descriptions of life in a professional kitchen. He nails each scene and draws the reader into the story.

As a reader, I love the Stuff series and this book is the best yet. It is flavored with humor and burns with plot-twists. You can't help but love the two main characters and root for them throughout the book. HOT STUFF is a fun read and I look forward to many more stories as these two friends ramble through the world of private detecting.

Bon Appetite!

Victoria Allman
author of: SEAsoned: A Chef's Journey with Her Captain

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Skip Moore and his roommate, James Lessor are two buddies who do side work as PIs in addition to their respective jobs as security system salesman and line cook. Skip’s girlfriend, Emily, hooks them up with celebrity chef Jean Bouvier, who wants James to work undercover in his Miami restaurant, L’Elfe. The guys have been hired by Chef Bouvier to investigate the stabbing death of his star sous chef, Amanda Wright, who was recently promoted to executive chef at a new restaurant Jean is opening in South Beach. Skip and James have to sort through such things as disgruntled employees with shady pasts as well as possible blackmail to find the killer. Also complicating things is Emily’s past connections with the murder victim and the secret past they both had shared (but Emily is reluctant to tell).

Fast, fun, humorous read where we get to see Skip and James blunder through proper investigative procedures, possibly breaking laws along the way. Just for the record this is 6th in the More and Lessor series. I had acquired the ARC via NetGalley and had not read any of the previous books. I was able to get right into it and didn’t feel I missed anything having not read the previous books. I do have an interest in picking up the series from the beginning.

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads in exchange for a review.

Hot Stuff by author Don Bruns was a different and entertaining kind of mystery. Featuring private detectives Skip Moore, James Lesser and sidekick girlfriend Em and is a part of the "Stuff" series by Bruns. Skip is serious, intelligent, and endearing as a somewhat clumsy detective. James is funny as the handsome, woman magnet, who dreams of becoming a chef. This case is right up their alley while investigating who murdered Em's chef friend, Amanda, James and Skip go undercover in a famous restaurant as a chef and dishwasher respectively.

The mystery kept me guessing for the whole book on who the killer was and kept me sufficiently entertained. The tension between Skip and Em was annoying but essential in her grieving over her best friend. James was often hilarious and I would have loved to see more of the women magnet in action. There were a few filler moments and red herrings sprinkled throughout the novel. Overall this was a good read for mystery fans and I am planning on going back and reading more of Bruns "Stuff" books.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

James and Skip, professional slackers and aspiring amateur private investigators, have been favorites of mine ever since they bumbled their drunken selves into ownership of a box truck that came with a scheme for turning it into a moving company. They quickly changed gears into the private eye business when murder and secrecy began following them, no matter where the truck went; a spy company, a food cart, it didn't matter. This time the adventure took them to a primo restaurant in Miami, where they were hired to blend in as kitchen staff while trying to solve the murder of a sous chef.
I didn't feel like this book was on par with the other "stuff" books. It felt like the author went overboard trying to incorporate his explanations of the inner workings of a restaurant into the actual story. This caused it to have a sort of slow start. Also, I'd like to see the truck be involved more. The truck went from being the nucleus of the story in previous books to being a minor character in Hot Stuff (yes, I really do think of this truck a character in these stories). Even with those critiques, it was still fun, I enjoyed it, and I will continue to read them.

[Julie (Bookish.Intoxication) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I recieved this novel from NetGalley.

This novel was engaging and likeable, it was quick and easy to read and allowed the reader to be submersed within the story. The language was easy to follow, although the use of characters names became over done at times.
Some of the characters seemed un-necessary, in that there seemed to be too many of them, there also seemed to be no set protagonist. Although there are two main characters, the spotlight wasn't shared equally, or wholly on one person, makeing it difficult to make a connection.

The characters, although well rounded, were slightly off, as though one or more of their dimensions weren't established properly.

All in all, a good read, short but sweet. The ending was lacking that brilliant crime-fiction plot twist and was underwhelming. Not a bad read.

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a quick and easy murder mystery novel. While there isn't anything wrong with that genre, I found that this book was just a little... lacking. The narrative voice was strange, sometimes being a normal man's thoughts and suddenly sounding like the voice-over from a 1950's black and white crime show. The result was, for me, a disconnect between myself and the main character.

The plot shifted in a similar manner to the voice. Characters became one-dimensional very quickly in order to speed up the plot and then suddenly became human again during 'down time'. It certainly doesn't deserve one star, simply because it took such a short time to read, but due to tone inconsistencies and a bland storyline I wouldn't go higher than a 2/5.

[Michael]

Meh, it was alright. Airplane book. A murder in a fancy Miami restaurant... some guys solve the crime. The best thing: I learned that there is a kind of cooking knife that is the one to get if I were serious, or wanted to appear that way. Hah hah. Wusthof. I looked it up. Very impressive. Here you go. (who am I kidding, I'd cut a finger off with these) http://www.chefscatalog.com/product/9...

[David Marshall · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a story of simple folk who, by means not clear, have contrived to qualify as PIs and so earn the occasional dollar by solving murders. It's great fun although I have a slight problem with the melodramatic way it ends.

http://opionator.wordpress.com/2012/0...

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a fun read! I recieve this book as a giveaway and was pleasantly surprised. The characters are fun to follow and full of humor.

[Adrienne Amborski · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another fun installment in the Lessor and Moore mystery series. Set in a the fancy South Miami restaurant, L'Elfe... Hot Stuff combines a murder and a Food Network setting for a delicious delight.

[Clare · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sorry, no. Twenty-five year olds, no matter how cool or mature, not not refer to each other as "boyfriend" or "amigo. I stopped reading after the ridiculous dialogue.

[Clewis53 · Rating 2 out of 5]

if you want to read about unrealistic clueless slacker wannabe detectives, this is the book for you.

[Tom Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun Miami crime novel about two weird detectives investigating a murder at at upscale Miami restaurant