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Eugenia Potter #3
The Nantucket Diet Murders
Warm memories and good food greeted Mrs. Potter's retum to her beloved Nantucket, but so did a chilling surprise. Her old friends had a dangerous new dangerously thin and dressed to kill!
Was something sinister going on? A handsome new diet doctor had won over the richest widows on the island with his weight-loss secrets -- and his very personal attention. But when sudden death was seved up along with delightful Down East dishes (try sinfully rich Scrimshaw Inn Rum Pie or tangy Nantucket Cranberry Cup Pudding!), the inimitable Mrs. Potter knew it was time to stir the pot and come up with a devilishly clever culinary killer.
Was something sinister going on? A handsome new diet doctor had won over the richest widows on the island with his weight-loss secrets -- and his very personal attention. But when sudden death was seved up along with delightful Down East dishes (try sinfully rich Scrimshaw Inn Rum Pie or tangy Nantucket Cranberry Cup Pudding!), the inimitable Mrs. Potter knew it was time to stir the pot and come up with a devilishly clever culinary killer.
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1985
84 people are currently reading
300 people want to read
About the author
Virginia Rich
17 books18 followersVirginia Rich was the creator of the widowed culinary sleuth Eugenia Potter. She was happily married herself, to cattleman Ray Rich; their daughter Susan Rich Sheridan is a noted art teacher.
Rich's fan and fellow mystery writer Nancy Pickard has continued the Eugenia Potter "Cooking School Murder" series, working from the boxes of notes Virginia Rich had made of plans for future novels.
Rich's fan and fellow mystery writer Nancy Pickard has continued the Eugenia Potter "Cooking School Murder" series, working from the boxes of notes Virginia Rich had made of plans for future novels.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
October 12, 2014
Don't be discouraged by the two stars. This series is one of those I turn to when I am tired, stressed, unhappy and not able to manage a tough read. It is light, but not bad. It is snobby, but that is part of its interest.
This is a short series of mysteries that were at least among the first of the foodie mysteries, including recipes for food that appears in the book. Unlike many of this genre, this series is not silly, but is feather-light, and its main characters live mostly among the wealthy and elegant older generation.
Our "detective" Eugenia Potter, is an older woman of means who divides her time among a cottage in Maine, a ranch in Texas and, as a visitor in this book, a friend's home in Nantucket, where we learn she spent many of her younger years.
Arriving just after Christmas, Potter finds her island friends looking svelte and pampered, having been led into a new diet and exercise program by a charming European man, who happens to also be the former husband of one of the friends. He is trying to establish himself in a new, exclusive nutrition center on the island, but this information is kept a bit hush-hush by Les Girls, Eugenia's friends, each of whom feels she is the only one to know about the project. Does the wealth of the friends have anything to do with his attention to them? Don't even ask.
The book is beautifully descriptive of Nantucket and the lovely homes where Potter's friends reside. It is a large part of the charm of these little mysteries to read the descriptions of the homes, the clothes, the furnishings, the food and the way of life led by most of the characters. This extends to the other books in the series, two of which are The Baked Bean Supper Murders (set in Maine) and The Cooking School Murders (I haven't read that yet). Two others were finished by fellow author Nancy Pickard, a mystery writer herself.
Do try one of these fun reads--even Mrs. Potter's dog is an aristocrat, and is a wonderful character in The Baked Bean Supper Murders. I recommend them, for those certain times when more would be too much.
This is a short series of mysteries that were at least among the first of the foodie mysteries, including recipes for food that appears in the book. Unlike many of this genre, this series is not silly, but is feather-light, and its main characters live mostly among the wealthy and elegant older generation.
Our "detective" Eugenia Potter, is an older woman of means who divides her time among a cottage in Maine, a ranch in Texas and, as a visitor in this book, a friend's home in Nantucket, where we learn she spent many of her younger years.
Arriving just after Christmas, Potter finds her island friends looking svelte and pampered, having been led into a new diet and exercise program by a charming European man, who happens to also be the former husband of one of the friends. He is trying to establish himself in a new, exclusive nutrition center on the island, but this information is kept a bit hush-hush by Les Girls, Eugenia's friends, each of whom feels she is the only one to know about the project. Does the wealth of the friends have anything to do with his attention to them? Don't even ask.
The book is beautifully descriptive of Nantucket and the lovely homes where Potter's friends reside. It is a large part of the charm of these little mysteries to read the descriptions of the homes, the clothes, the furnishings, the food and the way of life led by most of the characters. This extends to the other books in the series, two of which are The Baked Bean Supper Murders (set in Maine) and The Cooking School Murders (I haven't read that yet). Two others were finished by fellow author Nancy Pickard, a mystery writer herself.
Do try one of these fun reads--even Mrs. Potter's dog is an aristocrat, and is a wonderful character in The Baked Bean Supper Murders. I recommend them, for those certain times when more would be too much.
August 22, 2022
Charming and fun; an accurate depiction of this social world, though I rather wish the murderer were a different one and that the book didn't seem to ultimately endorse diet culture.
September 1, 2018
Nicely written culinary mystery. I enjoyed Eugenia Potter and her friend Gussie. Unique recipes at the back.
March 6, 2025
I bought this book at a thrift shop and didn't regret my choice. Set in Nantucket, this story brought me to a place I had never been before and involved me in a women's group that was vastly different from anything I have personally experienced.
The murder mystery developed so slowly and was so carefully laid out that I wondered, at times, if there was even a murder. But as the story developed along with the character relationships, I had to marvel at how cleverly the whole situation was laid out. I didn't guess the end.
Definitely, this story brought fresh perspectives to women's friendships, food value, dieting, marriage and family relationships, and what the mini-world of Nantucket might be like. I'm going to follow up and see if this author wrote anything else.
The murder mystery developed so slowly and was so carefully laid out that I wondered, at times, if there was even a murder. But as the story developed along with the character relationships, I had to marvel at how cleverly the whole situation was laid out. I didn't guess the end.
Definitely, this story brought fresh perspectives to women's friendships, food value, dieting, marriage and family relationships, and what the mini-world of Nantucket might be like. I'm going to follow up and see if this author wrote anything else.
November 22, 2020
I read the last book in this series and loved it. Genia, the main character, was sweet but also strong, there were plenty of details, just enough to make it real and interesting. This book, however, which comes earlier in the series seems like a completely different series and Genia. In this novel, she is mostly referred to as Mrs. Potter and comes across older than in the last book. There were lots of details in this one as well, but on the tedious and laborious side. The author seems to really love adjectives... this book felt more like a chore than a joy, sadly. The last book in th series is written by two authors, so maybe that is what makes the drastic difference? Sadly, I probably won’t read more from this series.
October 23, 2017
The Nantucket diet murders by Virginia Rich
Book starts out with her returning to the island and she finds her friends very thin and lacking in diet. Also some have died and she's on the trail of what is going on.
You are brought up to date about the womens past and their spouses and children as they all grow up around one another and spent many holidays together.
On their strolls they discuss architecture, widows finances, herbs that Tony is giving to others-it's an individual plan for each...
Like hearing all about the herbs and their combinations.
Recipes included at the end.
Received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
Book starts out with her returning to the island and she finds her friends very thin and lacking in diet. Also some have died and she's on the trail of what is going on.
You are brought up to date about the womens past and their spouses and children as they all grow up around one another and spent many holidays together.
On their strolls they discuss architecture, widows finances, herbs that Tony is giving to others-it's an individual plan for each...
Like hearing all about the herbs and their combinations.
Recipes included at the end.
Received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
February 18, 2021
Mrs. Potter returns to a he Island to find her friends very skinny and under the influence of Tony a doctor who had given them individually tailored diets. Each of her friends is a well to do widow so Mrs Potter is suspicious. When the local lawyer and his secretary die on the same day she definitely gets involved in looking into the going insane in Nantucket. Cute mystery, I more or less guessed the murder but what really caught my attention was all the food hey discussed. Also as this book was written many years ago it was interesting to go back in time to a lifestyle during the 80s.
February 3, 2011
This book was okay although a bit dry for my taste. The other part that I found confusing was how many characters there were and that sometimes they'd be referred to by first names and sometimes by last names so I would have to stop and think about who they were talking about (and at times wishing for a list of the characters at the front of the book).
May 16, 2025
3.5 stars
November 21, 2012
I guess this is what is called "a cozy mystery", although if I gave any credence to the events in the book, which the characters do not by the way, I would be pretty devastated. First a young woman, celebrating her birthday, chokes to death while eating a salad. Later a young woman is shot point blank in the head. But this being "a cozy mystery" nothing is described in gruesome detail and every one goes back to parties and knitting and getting their hair done or whatever. In this mystery the investigator is one of the old women who get together on Nantucket, whether they still live there or not, for lunches. But as I said, the mystery is very light, it is more of a gloss over the true pages of the book which are the reminiscences of the old woman (the author herself I would assume) about the many happy times she spent on Nantucket. So what really caught my interest in this book? A detail, a "light-ship basket" which is some sort of Nantucket purse. Maybe you have to come from old money to have a real one. Other than that, I don't drink or eat oysters or sail or come from old money so I didn't relate to the culture really. But I do diet! Don't we all? It was rather fun when the author reviews all the diets that most of us have probably been through. Now that I could relate to! The mystery itself wasn't too bad, not that great either, but OK.
June 11, 2023
I feel like maybe the authors were going for kind of a Miss Marple charming old lady feel, but honestly it was just. so. boring. Under 300 pages, but it felt twice as long, and I had to finish it for a reading challenge.
2 stars instead of one simply because the killer was unexpected, but good night. Someone shoot me if I ever think about picking up anything more from these authors.
2 stars instead of one simply because the killer was unexpected, but good night. Someone shoot me if I ever think about picking up anything more from these authors.
April 25, 2016
This is a book that even though was written in '83 is even more relevant today because it touches on over dieting and not by teen girls but by women who want to empress a man.
The book does start out with describing a death by anorexia and the reader should keep that in mind.
This is the last book Virginia Rich wrote and in this book the characters and settings are perfect and transport you to Nantucket in Jan.
I do get a kick out of her description of all the widows who are probably between 60 and 70. She makes them sound much older than women of that age today. I mean when was the last time a woman actually wore a slip, pantyhose and knee socks. All under a dress with boots. Unless @ 64 I'm just way to casual when I go for a brisk walk.
My only reason for not giving a 5 star, and I know it's silly but everyone else in the book the narrator refers to by their first name. The MC is called Mrs. Potter. Just drove me nuts.
This is a good read and does reflex what an american cozy was like during the 80's, in my opinion.
The book does start out with describing a death by anorexia and the reader should keep that in mind.
This is the last book Virginia Rich wrote and in this book the characters and settings are perfect and transport you to Nantucket in Jan.
I do get a kick out of her description of all the widows who are probably between 60 and 70. She makes them sound much older than women of that age today. I mean when was the last time a woman actually wore a slip, pantyhose and knee socks. All under a dress with boots. Unless @ 64 I'm just way to casual when I go for a brisk walk.
My only reason for not giving a 5 star, and I know it's silly but everyone else in the book the narrator refers to by their first name. The MC is called Mrs. Potter. Just drove me nuts.
This is a good read and does reflex what an american cozy was like during the 80's, in my opinion.
September 18, 2013
I have no idea why this lady fascinated me so much when she first wrote mysteries. This one is the worst so far. It's slow paced. There's way too many recipes thrown in as conversation. Lots and lots of description of old houses on Nantucket, old lighthouse baskets, old road erosion... A little would have been interesting. So much and I lost the track of what the book was about. Oh, yeah, who did kill Ozzie and Edie?
The ending, honestly, a part of a chapter explaining why the murderer did it? When the murderer is such a surprise?
Sigh... and then we're back to discussing various diets they've tried and gasp, an Arabic sounding person has bought a house on the island? Oh no! Sigh, again....
It lost of the charm of sounding like s bygone era and moved on to being racist and dull.
The ending, honestly, a part of a chapter explaining why the murderer did it? When the murderer is such a surprise?
Sigh... and then we're back to discussing various diets they've tried and gasp, an Arabic sounding person has bought a house on the island? Oh no! Sigh, again....
It lost of the charm of sounding like s bygone era and moved on to being racist and dull.
November 11, 2008
This is a cozy-mystery, and as such was a little slow moving along, up through about the middle of the book. But I kept reading because the characters were so charming and lovable. She paints a good picture of life on Nantucket among these wealthy elderly ladies. I actually wasn't super enthused about reading another book in the series till the second half of the book and the climax. Very exciting. I did suspect who the culprit was but was not certain till the very end. The fact that I suspected, didn't ruin the suspense at the end. As a bonus, there are some interesting recipes included. I'm definitely going to try the garlic soup and buttermilk donuts! If you enjoy Miss Marple and Jessica Fletcher and Alvirah & Willy Meehan you will love this book.
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March 25, 2017Warm memories and good food greeted Mrs. Potter's return to her beloved Nantucket, but so did a chilling surprise. Her old friends had a dangerous new look: dangerously thin and dressed to kill! Was something sinister going on? A handsome new diet doctor had won over the richest widows on the island with his weight-loss secrets -- and his very personal attention. But when sudden death was served up along with delightful Down East dishes (try sinfully rich Scrimshaw Inn Rum Pie or tangy Nantucket Cranberry Cup Pudding!), the inimitable Mrs. Potter knew it was time to stir the pot and come up with a devilishly clever culinary killer.
Peter did it.
Peter did it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 26, 2014
Virginia Rich's genteel cozies featuring Eugenia Price are a delight and so I was glad to find The Nantucket Diet Murders in my tbr stack. Eugenia returns to Nantucket, and this year finds her old friends dangerously thin, surprisingly chic, and unnervingly absorbed with a mysterious health coach. Eugenia's like an old friend: loving, practical and caring - you wish you could live down the street from her. I love the Nantucket setting, the seasonal cycles of the place and the story with good friends that have history together.
February 3, 2020
Fun who-done-it read, great mystery until the final pages. Interesting and believable characters.
Friends of long standing welcome on of their own back for a winter visit. Good friends, good food (when they have it) and a warm feeling. I enjoyed the Nantucket Winter setting as I have only enjoyed the island during the summer and that for only a short stint.
Well written and easy to follow. Not a compulsive read, but easy to pick up again and interesting enough to want to.
Friends of long standing welcome on of their own back for a winter visit. Good friends, good food (when they have it) and a warm feeling. I enjoyed the Nantucket Winter setting as I have only enjoyed the island during the summer and that for only a short stint.
Well written and easy to follow. Not a compulsive read, but easy to pick up again and interesting enough to want to.
December 22, 2009
I loved this when I first read it and was very sad when I found out that the original writer had died only leaving two books (and really sad when I realized the one in the series that I did not really like was not written by the original author for the above reason). I just re-read it and I still like it.
October 10, 2013
I started reading Eugene Potter series just when Nancy Pickard took over in "The 27 Ingredient Chili Con Carne Mystery Murders". Virginia Rich tells her stories differently. There's a lot more telling than showing, too much description which I find slows down the story. The recipes, though, are good.
August 16, 2014
Really 2.5 stars
Cute enough murder mystery; a bit dated now (c.. 1985)--they are doing exercises in leotards (!) and playing records on a records player!! Best part is the setting on Nantucket Island. I also enjoyed learning about "lightship baskets"--very interesting bit of basketry history.
Cute enough murder mystery; a bit dated now (c.. 1985)--they are doing exercises in leotards (!) and playing records on a records player!! Best part is the setting on Nantucket Island. I also enjoyed learning about "lightship baskets"--very interesting bit of basketry history.
November 5, 2016
Eugenia Potter returns to her home in Nantucket and reunites with her longtime friends, all widows like herself. The ladies are wealthy and most are under the spell of a new diet guru on the island. A few suspicious deaths occur and Mrs. Potter begins to look deeper into this mystery man. I wanted to like it more than I did, I just can't pinpoint what was missing.
September 6, 2011
This is a little slow moving mystery. She paints a good picture of life on Nantucket among these wealthy widowed older ladies. I did kind of suspect who the murderer was but it didn,t ruin the ending for me and there were some interesting recipes included
September 13, 2012
Genia is in Nantucket, Massachusetts just in time to solve the mysterious poisoning deaths of two acquaintances. This time, she barely escapes death herself, which might be preferable to the mostly vegetable juice diet her friend puts her on!
November 4, 2016
Slow
The plot of this story is convoluted but eventually interesting; However the author took forever getting to the interesting part. I struggled to keep reading. The characters were well drawn , but there were too many who were important to the plot. The recipes were o.k.
The plot of this story is convoluted but eventually interesting; However the author took forever getting to the interesting part. I struggled to keep reading. The characters were well drawn , but there were too many who were important to the plot. The recipes were o.k.
July 14, 2019
A murder mystery entailing older women in Nantucket. I enjoyed the Nantucket journey, but the murder was not that thrilling and didn't enjoy most of the aging women doing any diet or procedure to look good.
August 9, 2021
After reading thirty pages, I gave up on this one. It begins with the longest, most tedious luncheon, so long that I didn't actually get to the end of it. The characters seemed flat and rather dull. Life is too short.
March 9, 2022
Unexpectedly satisfying. Many twists and turns and a surprising-to-me ending. Strong characters with interesting and detailed backstories brought this setting and community to life for me. Enjoyable and fun, with enough suspense and concerns to be satisfying.
August 12, 2007
Enjoyable entry in the Eugenia Potter series – who-dun-its with recipes - one of the first authors to do this, I think.
August 12, 2009
I was given this book while on vacation in Nantucket - and it started me reading a whole new kind of book.
An adventure of a mystery.
An adventure of a mystery.
April 20, 2010
It was okay as mysteries go but the author jumps around a lot.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews