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Café La Femme #2
Drowned Vanilla
It’s the beginning of a hot, hot summer in Hobart. Tabitha Darling is in love with the wrong man, and determined to perfect the art of ice cream. Playing amateur detective again is definitely not on the cards—not even when her friends try to lure her into an arty film noir project in the historical town of Flynn.
But when a young woman goes missing from a house full of live webcams, and is found drowned in the lake outside Flynn, Tabitha is dragged into the whole mess— film crew, murder victim, love life and all.
There were two girls using the internet pseudonym French Vanilla, and only one is dead. So where is the other one? Why is everyone suddenly behaving like they’re in a (quite specific) Raymond Chandler novel? And how the hell did the best kiss of Tabitha’s life end up on YouTube?
Even ice cream isn’t going to get them out of this one.
But when a young woman goes missing from a house full of live webcams, and is found drowned in the lake outside Flynn, Tabitha is dragged into the whole mess— film crew, murder victim, love life and all.
There were two girls using the internet pseudonym French Vanilla, and only one is dead. So where is the other one? Why is everyone suddenly behaving like they’re in a (quite specific) Raymond Chandler novel? And how the hell did the best kiss of Tabitha’s life end up on YouTube?
Even ice cream isn’t going to get them out of this one.
356 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2014
32 people are currently reading
100 people want to read
About the author
Livia Day
7 books27 followersPseudonym of Tansy Rayner Roberts
Livia Day fell in love with crime fiction at an early age. Her first heroes were Miss Jane Marple and Mrs Emma Peel, and not a lot has changed since then!
She has lived in Hobart, Tasmania for most of her life, and now spends far too much time planning which picturesque tourist spot will get the next fictional corpse.
Livia Day fell in love with crime fiction at an early age. Her first heroes were Miss Jane Marple and Mrs Emma Peel, and not a lot has changed since then!
She has lived in Hobart, Tasmania for most of her life, and now spends far too much time planning which picturesque tourist spot will get the next fictional corpse.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
January 9, 2015
Yes yes I read it in a day.
I gave it to my mother for her birthday; she had previously loved A Trifle Dead. About this one, she says:
I was thoroughly entertained by this latest book from Livia Day. I appreciated her heroine's inability to combine detective work, cooking skills and a complicated love life with aplomb! The plot kept me interested to the end; the recipes for summer drinks, gelato and ice cream almost made me want to spend more time in the kitchen, and her dealings with Bishop and Stewart made me want to take her aside for a maternal chat.
It's just the sort of book I like for holiday reading while watching the cricket - enjoyable with no necessity for deep thinking!
Oh Ma.
As for me... well, I have moved somewhere and have room for some frivolous things, and after reading this I decided that yes indeed I did want an ice cream maker. I will, however, be making neither beer ice cream nor Shay's butterscotch, for completely different reasons.
I am not maternal and so did not have the same reaction as my mother; instead it had me reading with one eye metaphorically closed as I waited for something to go deeply wrong.
As to the plot - I know I am no author when I hit the twists and turns and I am utterly amazed at the devious brain that comes up with the sorts of things that happen to Tabitha. Poor lass. Livia, you are So Mean.
Hobart and its surrounds come to life beautifully, if not quite as much a part of the plot as in A Trifle Dead. There is a love of food, a love of friends, and a general love of life evident in this book. Hugely enjoyable.
I gave it to my mother for her birthday; she had previously loved A Trifle Dead. About this one, she says:
I was thoroughly entertained by this latest book from Livia Day. I appreciated her heroine's inability to combine detective work, cooking skills and a complicated love life with aplomb! The plot kept me interested to the end; the recipes for summer drinks, gelato and ice cream almost made me want to spend more time in the kitchen, and her dealings with Bishop and Stewart made me want to take her aside for a maternal chat.
It's just the sort of book I like for holiday reading while watching the cricket - enjoyable with no necessity for deep thinking!
Oh Ma.
As for me... well, I have moved somewhere and have room for some frivolous things, and after reading this I decided that yes indeed I did want an ice cream maker. I will, however, be making neither beer ice cream nor Shay's butterscotch, for completely different reasons.
I am not maternal and so did not have the same reaction as my mother; instead it had me reading with one eye metaphorically closed as I waited for something to go deeply wrong.
As to the plot - I know I am no author when I hit the twists and turns and I am utterly amazed at the devious brain that comes up with the sorts of things that happen to Tabitha. Poor lass. Livia, you are So Mean.
Hobart and its surrounds come to life beautifully, if not quite as much a part of the plot as in A Trifle Dead. There is a love of food, a love of friends, and a general love of life evident in this book. Hugely enjoyable.
September 29, 2019
Disclaimer: I was provided with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This review may contain spoilers for previous books.
I love to read speculative fiction but every now and then it is good to take a break and read something else. Usually, it's romance, but occasionally I like to dip into some crime. In Drowned Vanilla I get the best of all three: a crime novel with a strong romantic plot written by a spec-fic author in another guise. Having devoured A Trifle Dead during Dewey's read-a-thon, I was delighted when I was offered a review copy of Drowned Vanilla.
Time has passed since A Trifle Dead. Tabitha's roommate Ceege has been dumped by his girlfriend, one of Tabitha's love interests has left town, and she is struggling to get used to having days off now that Xanthippe has taken over as co-owner of Cafe La Femme. I liked this sense of life having moved on, despite traumatic events. Things have changed, and so has Tabitha.
The writing style has also changed slightly. Each chapter now begins with a snippet of writing from the perspective of a particular character, most often Tabitha. These snippets include things like a list of ice cream flavours Tabitha wants to create, some of her recipes (including commentary), or email exchanges on potential menu items with Cafe La Femme's chef. It was an excellent way of illustrating the characters' preoccupations and reinforcing that sense of daily life continuing inevitably onward.
Tabitha is the glue that keeps the story together, but she's not always a likeable character. She comes across as surprisingly judgemental in this book, though that gets folded into the plot rather nicely. There are also times when she comes across as shallow; her preoccupations with food, vintage clothing and her complicated love-life arise at some rather inappropriate moments. However, her flaws make her easy to relate to and it's clear that her heart is in the right place. She may be shallow, but she also cares for the people around her--not just her friends but also the strangers she encounters.
To return to Tabitha's complicated love-life, new readers should be aware that the series features a love triangle. I'm not usually a fan, but I feel it is handled well. Both love interests are shown in a positive light and given equal weight. I found this made it genuinely difficult to pick a "team" and thus helped me to empathise with Tabitha's dilemma. I also very much appreciated that neither of them tried to change who Tabitha was. They may not be happy with the situation, but they handle it with maturity instead of resentment.
While Drowned Vanilla may seem as fluffy as one of Tabitha's desserts, it only serves to disguise the serious issues underneath. In particular it delves into the way the internet and social media is increasingly blurring the line between public and private lives. It also examines the difficulties faced by those living in rural areas.
Speaking of rural areas, the series is set in Tasmania. I really loved this. The way Hobart is depicted as an oversized small town where there are very few degrees of separation between everyone felt very authentic and reminded me of my own hometown of Canberra.
The story was an excellent continuation of the series and one I very much enjoyed. If you like your murder mysteries short and sweet but with a rich flavour, Drowned Vanilla is for you.
This review first appeared on Earl Grey Editing.
I love to read speculative fiction but every now and then it is good to take a break and read something else. Usually, it's romance, but occasionally I like to dip into some crime. In Drowned Vanilla I get the best of all three: a crime novel with a strong romantic plot written by a spec-fic author in another guise. Having devoured A Trifle Dead during Dewey's read-a-thon, I was delighted when I was offered a review copy of Drowned Vanilla.
Time has passed since A Trifle Dead. Tabitha's roommate Ceege has been dumped by his girlfriend, one of Tabitha's love interests has left town, and she is struggling to get used to having days off now that Xanthippe has taken over as co-owner of Cafe La Femme. I liked this sense of life having moved on, despite traumatic events. Things have changed, and so has Tabitha.
The writing style has also changed slightly. Each chapter now begins with a snippet of writing from the perspective of a particular character, most often Tabitha. These snippets include things like a list of ice cream flavours Tabitha wants to create, some of her recipes (including commentary), or email exchanges on potential menu items with Cafe La Femme's chef. It was an excellent way of illustrating the characters' preoccupations and reinforcing that sense of daily life continuing inevitably onward.
Tabitha is the glue that keeps the story together, but she's not always a likeable character. She comes across as surprisingly judgemental in this book, though that gets folded into the plot rather nicely. There are also times when she comes across as shallow; her preoccupations with food, vintage clothing and her complicated love-life arise at some rather inappropriate moments. However, her flaws make her easy to relate to and it's clear that her heart is in the right place. She may be shallow, but she also cares for the people around her--not just her friends but also the strangers she encounters.
To return to Tabitha's complicated love-life, new readers should be aware that the series features a love triangle. I'm not usually a fan, but I feel it is handled well. Both love interests are shown in a positive light and given equal weight. I found this made it genuinely difficult to pick a "team" and thus helped me to empathise with Tabitha's dilemma. I also very much appreciated that neither of them tried to change who Tabitha was. They may not be happy with the situation, but they handle it with maturity instead of resentment.
While Drowned Vanilla may seem as fluffy as one of Tabitha's desserts, it only serves to disguise the serious issues underneath. In particular it delves into the way the internet and social media is increasingly blurring the line between public and private lives. It also examines the difficulties faced by those living in rural areas.
Speaking of rural areas, the series is set in Tasmania. I really loved this. The way Hobart is depicted as an oversized small town where there are very few degrees of separation between everyone felt very authentic and reminded me of my own hometown of Canberra.
The story was an excellent continuation of the series and one I very much enjoyed. If you like your murder mysteries short and sweet but with a rich flavour, Drowned Vanilla is for you.
This review first appeared on Earl Grey Editing.
February 23, 2017
The plot is a little too convoluted but overall I found it delightful! And it includes ice cream recipes I might have to try.
October 6, 2014
Drowned Vanilla is a deliciously intriguing Tasmanian tale of missing girls and murder. A young woman drowns in a lake, a beautiful student disappears, and unlikely amateur sleuth Tabitha Darling and her friends set out to investigate. I grew up in Tasmania, and this novel's setting in the sandstone lined streets of Hobart and its beautiful surrounds was particularly appealing to me. I spent many holidays visiting my strict, old-fashioned and ladylike grandmother in Sandy Bay. She took us swimming at Nutgrove Beach, and to visit historic places of interest, from Battery Point and the Salamanca wharves to the museums and historic houses in the city. This story brought back lots of nice memories.
One of the most original crime novels I've read in ages, this second novel in the Cafe la Femme series sparkles with author Livia Day's unique brand of murder-mystery served with a triple helping of mouthwatering desserts, vintage fashion and romantic tension. As a protagonist Tabitha is one of the best in her business - bright, energetic, passionate and endearing. It's never certain whether she will solve the crime, or be side tracked by one of her handsome boyfriends, but I was on her side the entire way. This is a screwball comedy in many ways, with no sordid or horrific details of the crimes: if this novel was a movie I could have happily taken my Grandma to see it.
However, this novel is not all toffee and fairy floss-flavoured ice-cream. Serious considerations lie beneath the sweet surface: Livia Day writes intelligently about the complex challenges Tasmanians face, including unemployment, education and environmental issues. These ideas indirectly drive the narrative - for example, the tendency of young people in Tasmania to abandon the small towns to pursue greater things in either Launceston or Hobart, or on the mainland. Livia Day is gifted at writing humour, and she has published a long list of novels under a different name, in the speculative fiction category, however I would be curious to read more of her serious ideas about Tasmania and Tasmanians.
A wonderful, exuberant and quirky novel that warms your heart, makes you laugh, and keeps you turning the pages until the very last.
This review first appeared on www.poppygee.com
One of the most original crime novels I've read in ages, this second novel in the Cafe la Femme series sparkles with author Livia Day's unique brand of murder-mystery served with a triple helping of mouthwatering desserts, vintage fashion and romantic tension. As a protagonist Tabitha is one of the best in her business - bright, energetic, passionate and endearing. It's never certain whether she will solve the crime, or be side tracked by one of her handsome boyfriends, but I was on her side the entire way. This is a screwball comedy in many ways, with no sordid or horrific details of the crimes: if this novel was a movie I could have happily taken my Grandma to see it.
However, this novel is not all toffee and fairy floss-flavoured ice-cream. Serious considerations lie beneath the sweet surface: Livia Day writes intelligently about the complex challenges Tasmanians face, including unemployment, education and environmental issues. These ideas indirectly drive the narrative - for example, the tendency of young people in Tasmania to abandon the small towns to pursue greater things in either Launceston or Hobart, or on the mainland. Livia Day is gifted at writing humour, and she has published a long list of novels under a different name, in the speculative fiction category, however I would be curious to read more of her serious ideas about Tasmania and Tasmanians.
A wonderful, exuberant and quirky novel that warms your heart, makes you laugh, and keeps you turning the pages until the very last.
This review first appeared on www.poppygee.com
March 3, 2016
The second full-length Cafe La Femme novel has Tabitha swearing on the one hand that she no longer intends to be a girl detective – her not-boyfriend Bishop really disapproves of that – and on the other, that she is just going help a teeeeeensy bit with this missing person business.
Of course, chaos reigns, dressed in fabulous vintage frocks. Between obsessive experimentation with ice cream flavours, working out how to not tell Bishop things he probably ought to know and fearing that she’s become a boring old Vanilla person, Tabitha stumbles into murder, imposturing, experimental film and that persistent problem that she’s going out with one man while sporadically kissing quite another.
The energy and humour continue to fizz in Drowned Vanilla, and though the situations and the fantastic characters are outside the probable, the story retains enough grounding in reality to not go flying completely off into the unknown. Hobart and its surrounding towns are a strong presence that make me want to visit that pretty little town again, and I love the fact that Tabitha’s love life, while complicated and seemingly irresolvable, remains completely in Tabitha’s control. There doesn’t have to be a neat ending every time, and it’s easy to see the appeal of both Stewart and Bishop.
The supporting characters are charming, even when you want to slap some of them, and Tabitha Darling remains a very engaging hero. The chefs out there might even want to try the ice cream recipes scattered throughout the book.
Of course, chaos reigns, dressed in fabulous vintage frocks. Between obsessive experimentation with ice cream flavours, working out how to not tell Bishop things he probably ought to know and fearing that she’s become a boring old Vanilla person, Tabitha stumbles into murder, imposturing, experimental film and that persistent problem that she’s going out with one man while sporadically kissing quite another.
The energy and humour continue to fizz in Drowned Vanilla, and though the situations and the fantastic characters are outside the probable, the story retains enough grounding in reality to not go flying completely off into the unknown. Hobart and its surrounding towns are a strong presence that make me want to visit that pretty little town again, and I love the fact that Tabitha’s love life, while complicated and seemingly irresolvable, remains completely in Tabitha’s control. There doesn’t have to be a neat ending every time, and it’s easy to see the appeal of both Stewart and Bishop.
The supporting characters are charming, even when you want to slap some of them, and Tabitha Darling remains a very engaging hero. The chefs out there might even want to try the ice cream recipes scattered throughout the book.
July 26, 2015
Read in one afternoon; I think I liked this better than its predecessor. Tabitha Darling is increasingly a protagonist I'd like to be mates with (also, cook for me). Warning to lactose-intolerant readers: consuming this book in winter will only slightly diminish ice cream-related FOMO.
December 27, 2019
Once again Tabitha wanders around accidentally or not so accidentally solving mysteries. With desserts and friendship in spades. A cosy mystery, loved this!
May 9, 2016
I enjoyed this even more than the first one. Proper review to come.
October 31, 2019
I am really loving these Cafe La Femme novels. Not only for the humourous writing, or the frankly delicious ice-cream recipes, but because Livia Day was able to avoid that trap of it being completely unbelievable when a character who is not a detective is constantly in the wrong place at the wrong time and solving murders with no training (and strangely inept police). In Drowned Vanilla, Day seemed to find a way for our intrepid Tabitha to be accidentally involved in another investigation and for it to feel like a natural extension not only of the plot, but her character and the trauma she is trying to deal with from the first book.
It might sound weird, but I love that the climax of the last book doesn't just roll of Tabatha's back, there were real mental and PTSD consequences to her imprisonment by someone she trusted, so much so that her reluctance to be drawn into an investigation where her life could be at risk again adds so much more delicious tension to the narrative than I've seen in other cosy mysteries. She makes some... questionable decisions as the story unfolds, but it's her flaws that continue to draw me in and make the character interactions seem so real and addicting.
I also love the light social commentary on the blurred lines between the internet, social media, and public and private personas and the quagmire that can go with that. Which reminds me to mention that if you get a bit squeamish with the idea of cam girls and the nudity that comes with that, you may want to move cautiously into this particular installment as it's central to the murder mystery.
For me, Day managed to balance that on the edge of your seat, one eye closed, waiting for the other foot to drop feeling with a breezy, light, and humorous tone, the best of chicklit and crime in a perfect flavour combo.
It might sound weird, but I love that the climax of the last book doesn't just roll of Tabatha's back, there were real mental and PTSD consequences to her imprisonment by someone she trusted, so much so that her reluctance to be drawn into an investigation where her life could be at risk again adds so much more delicious tension to the narrative than I've seen in other cosy mysteries. She makes some... questionable decisions as the story unfolds, but it's her flaws that continue to draw me in and make the character interactions seem so real and addicting.
I also love the light social commentary on the blurred lines between the internet, social media, and public and private personas and the quagmire that can go with that. Which reminds me to mention that if you get a bit squeamish with the idea of cam girls and the nudity that comes with that, you may want to move cautiously into this particular installment as it's central to the murder mystery.
For me, Day managed to balance that on the edge of your seat, one eye closed, waiting for the other foot to drop feeling with a breezy, light, and humorous tone, the best of chicklit and crime in a perfect flavour combo.
May 30, 2019
Drowned Vanilla is a continuation of Tabitha’s story. She’s got somewhat of a reputation for solving mysteries now, but she’s still shaken from her last case. When she’s asked to find a missing person, though, she can’t refuse. Trying at the same time to improve her café, she must solve this mystery without all the overprotective police officers around her stopping her investigation.
Like A Trifle Dead, I liked this book a lot. I had a little better handle on the differences in seasons from the US, so while I had to keep reminding myself that the seasons were different, it was less confusing. I highly recommend this book.
Like A Trifle Dead, I liked this book a lot. I had a little better handle on the differences in seasons from the US, so while I had to keep reminding myself that the seasons were different, it was less confusing. I highly recommend this book.
January 17, 2019
Drowned Vanilla by Livia Day is a mystery book. It’s part of a series, book two, and it stars Tabitha, a Tasmanian chef who likes solving mysteries. Drowned Vanilla is about the murder of a girl who lives in a house covered in cameras. With a side of romantic tension and ice cream, this book is great and I would recommend it to people who like ice cream and mysteries.
October 11, 2020
I'm not much of a reader of murder mysteries (even cozy ones), although I do enjoy the format on film/TV. The cozy mystery genre, such as this is, is still highly enjoyable, as the tone is kept somewhat light even with, you know, the murders. Drowned Vanilla is a good example of the genre, with sassy characters, a mystery with lots of intrigue that keeps you guessing, and a great resolution.
March 22, 2019
It's hard to say if this books is stronger than A Trifle Dead or of I was familiar enough with the characters and voice to just dive right in, but I zoomed through this book in just over a day - it even held my attention on an airplane!
Also I'm with Tabitha on vanilla...
Also I'm with Tabitha on vanilla...
June 25, 2018
I seem to recall really enjoying the first book in this series but this was just... well... not for me.
May 4, 2015
Drowned Vanilla is the second book in the Café La Femme series, with a short novelette in-between. Still set in Hobart and still running her amazing café, trouble finds Tabitha yet again when a young woman goes missing. Literally finds her, as one of the flat mates to the missing girl has had Tabitha recommended to her now that she has a reputation for solving crimes. Especially as the girls feel they can't go to the police for this, as they live in a house completely swarming with webcams. They sell their ordinary lives to the internet to make money for rent and so on, and have strict rules for what they need to abide for their paying customers.
Her flat mates tell Tabitha that in the recorded footage, their friend was reading on the couch - the power goes off - four minutes later, she's gone with a pair of shoes but her mobile, handbag and everything else were left behind. There's not a struggle, but the security into the house is also pretty secure - though that of course goes when the power's out.
As if that's not enough to keep Tabitha busy, she also gets roped into acting in an arty film noir project in the historical town of Flynn. Along with the very cute-accent Stewart, which only entangles Tabitha in more trouble. Some that eventually everyone she seems to know on the planet eventually sees.
Xanthippe plays more of a role in this one - one of Tabitha's weird and excellent friends - and the background characters in this one are more gritty rather than geeky as we see in the first book. The book as a whole is less geeky and more crimey, but that's okay - we're reading a crime novel after all, and we can survive not reading speculative fiction every so often. The wit and the dialogue make up for this in spades.
It also doesn't hurt that throughout this book Tabitha is trying to come up with the perfect ice cream recipe, and is thoroughly upset with the people in her life that think vanilla ice cream is good. Surely it's just too boring, and she's determined to find the perfect recipe for the hot summer Hobart is currently going through.
Personally I'd be one of the people Tabitha hates - a good vanilla bean ice cream is all I need to keep me happy (or at least it was before my lactose intolerance got to the stage it is now, sigh) - but what this means for the readers is that there's recipes throughout the book, most of which make you want to try them instantly - even if it isn't summer where you are.
Other than recipes there's also blog posts and chats thrown in, always welcome editions to any book. Stewart is still written with his accent and Livia Day still manages to pull it off fantastically, and there's also still a bit of a love triangle that doesn't annoy me - I'm just very certain for who I'm cheering for. To which point I want to shake Tabitha and ask WHAT ARE YOU DOING at a certain point in the book.
These are the books that you read in an afternoon, unable to put down. This is purely character-driven, and I wouldn't have it any other way.
Her flat mates tell Tabitha that in the recorded footage, their friend was reading on the couch - the power goes off - four minutes later, she's gone with a pair of shoes but her mobile, handbag and everything else were left behind. There's not a struggle, but the security into the house is also pretty secure - though that of course goes when the power's out.
As if that's not enough to keep Tabitha busy, she also gets roped into acting in an arty film noir project in the historical town of Flynn. Along with the very cute-accent Stewart, which only entangles Tabitha in more trouble. Some that eventually everyone she seems to know on the planet eventually sees.
Xanthippe plays more of a role in this one - one of Tabitha's weird and excellent friends - and the background characters in this one are more gritty rather than geeky as we see in the first book. The book as a whole is less geeky and more crimey, but that's okay - we're reading a crime novel after all, and we can survive not reading speculative fiction every so often. The wit and the dialogue make up for this in spades.
It also doesn't hurt that throughout this book Tabitha is trying to come up with the perfect ice cream recipe, and is thoroughly upset with the people in her life that think vanilla ice cream is good. Surely it's just too boring, and she's determined to find the perfect recipe for the hot summer Hobart is currently going through.
Personally I'd be one of the people Tabitha hates - a good vanilla bean ice cream is all I need to keep me happy (or at least it was before my lactose intolerance got to the stage it is now, sigh) - but what this means for the readers is that there's recipes throughout the book, most of which make you want to try them instantly - even if it isn't summer where you are.
Other than recipes there's also blog posts and chats thrown in, always welcome editions to any book. Stewart is still written with his accent and Livia Day still manages to pull it off fantastically, and there's also still a bit of a love triangle that doesn't annoy me - I'm just very certain for who I'm cheering for. To which point I want to shake Tabitha and ask WHAT ARE YOU DOING at a certain point in the book.
These are the books that you read in an afternoon, unable to put down. This is purely character-driven, and I wouldn't have it any other way.
February 17, 2015
Disclaimer: I received a free copy through Goodreads First Reads
'Adventures never need a reason why...They simply are.'
Let me just say, I had no preconceptions going into this book/series. Then I saw this beautiful cover, read an intriguing synopsis and was introduced to one Tabitha Darling. I was hooked like a girl with a tub of salted caramel ice-cream.
There were many refreshing things about this book and its style. Firstly, it was lovely to see the Tasmanian setting. I've only been the once but it is a very beautiful and interesting place, and nice to read about a familiar setting .
Secondly, there were no annoying characters. In 'annoying' I'm referring to characters the author sets us up to like but we really, really don't. Sure some of Day's characters do horrible things or just generally aren't nice people, but they are still well written and interesting! I'm especially fond of Tabitha. She could have so easily fallen into the manicpixiedreamgirl trope, but it's refreshing to see a quirky and confident female protagonist. Sure she loves cooking and shopping for vintage clothes, but she's also emotionally intelligent (people often spill their secrets to her, or she works them out), running a successful business and very creative in the culinary department.
Also Day did a great job on writing the Scottish accent. It was effective and thankfully completely understandable.
There were some places where I was preparing to cringe after reading a line fearing that I was about to be disappointed in the characters, but I shouldn't have worried
Third, there's just the right balance of murder and romance. I was impressed with the mystery overall, it was very original and not predictable. The pace was good, it was never just plodding along for the sake of it and it wasn't rushed at the end. I think there's enough romance to satisfy fans of it and not too much to deter those who aren't.
Four and five, I loved the little recipes/chat conversations/blogposts at the beginning of each chapter, they definitely draw you into reading the next chapter (even if it's 11pm and you're exhausted). Also this book was funny. So funny. There were great little one liners littered about the book from a writer who clearly has a great sense of humour (eg. '...how do you manage to put in a full night's policing and still get a good night's sleep?' 'Hard drugs' he said with a straight face.')
Although I haven't read the first in the series 'A Trifle Dead', it was easy enough to get on board with the characters and their backgrounds--so never fear, you can pick up this book immediately. I'm glad I did, it was a fun read!
'Adventures never need a reason why...They simply are.'
Let me just say, I had no preconceptions going into this book/series. Then I saw this beautiful cover, read an intriguing synopsis and was introduced to one Tabitha Darling. I was hooked like a girl with a tub of salted caramel ice-cream.
There were many refreshing things about this book and its style. Firstly, it was lovely to see the Tasmanian setting. I've only been the once but it is a very beautiful and interesting place, and nice to read about a familiar setting .
Secondly, there were no annoying characters. In 'annoying' I'm referring to characters the author sets us up to like but we really, really don't. Sure some of Day's characters do horrible things or just generally aren't nice people, but they are still well written and interesting! I'm especially fond of Tabitha. She could have so easily fallen into the manicpixiedreamgirl trope, but it's refreshing to see a quirky and confident female protagonist. Sure she loves cooking and shopping for vintage clothes, but she's also emotionally intelligent (people often spill their secrets to her, or she works them out), running a successful business and very creative in the culinary department.
Also Day did a great job on writing the Scottish accent. It was effective and thankfully completely understandable.
There were some places where I was preparing to cringe after reading a line fearing that I was about to be disappointed in the characters, but I shouldn't have worried
Third, there's just the right balance of murder and romance. I was impressed with the mystery overall, it was very original and not predictable. The pace was good, it was never just plodding along for the sake of it and it wasn't rushed at the end. I think there's enough romance to satisfy fans of it and not too much to deter those who aren't.
Four and five, I loved the little recipes/chat conversations/blogposts at the beginning of each chapter, they definitely draw you into reading the next chapter (even if it's 11pm and you're exhausted). Also this book was funny. So funny. There were great little one liners littered about the book from a writer who clearly has a great sense of humour (eg. '...how do you manage to put in a full night's policing and still get a good night's sleep?' 'Hard drugs' he said with a straight face.')
Although I haven't read the first in the series 'A Trifle Dead', it was easy enough to get on board with the characters and their backgrounds--so never fear, you can pick up this book immediately. I'm glad I did, it was a fun read!
February 18, 2015
Disclaimer: I received this book free through Goodreads First Reads.
Reading this book made me crave ice cream with every new chapter, and I don’t even like ice cream! That’s how good this book is, it makes you want things you don’t even like.
Let me start by saying that I haven’t read the first book in this series, so I was worried I would go into this book not knowing any of the characters, but thankfully character backgrounds are fleshed out towards the beginning of this book so I immediately felt comfortable reading this. I will try to pick up the first book however, because reading Drowned Vanilla just made me more and more curious as to Tabitha’s adventure in the first book.
Okay now onto the book. Drowned Vanilla is a truly magical book. I wasn’t expecting to like it as much as I did, I was worried it might be a bit too eccentric in a ‘trying too hard to be different’ kind of way, but this book balances all it’s elements perfectly. It has just the right amount of romance without overpowering the story or taking away from the plot, whilst also having enough crime that I wasn’t dissatisfied, and to top it off it added interesting elements like recipes and blog entries which kept the story fresh and engaging.
This book is set in Tasmania, which was really interesting to me because I do live in Tasmania and I’ve never read a fictional novel set here before so it was really exciting to read this and be surrounded by that sense of familiarity.
The characters are what really make this book special. They were all written with such care and given such distinctive voices, I was never bored or irritated reading them, even the characters I didn’t care for. Tabitha is definitely going on my list of favourite protagonists, she is intelligent and confident, but she is also flawed, and I couldn’t help fall in love with her as the book went on. I loved reading Stewart too, he’s a character I’m going to remember for a long time. I especially like that Stewart’s Scottish accent was written as it would have been spoken, it made him even more fun to read.
The pacing of this book is great too, not once did I feel like it was rushing for a conclusion, or dawdling to add more pages, it was done so well I wasn’t bored reading this once. The mystery element of this was great because I was intrigued from the beginning about the murder, but also didn’t manage to guess what was going to happen at the end.
So I definitely think this book is worth reading and I will follow the series as it goes on, I’m excited to see what Tabitha gets up to next. Please read it, it's going to be different than anything you've ever read before.
Reading this book made me crave ice cream with every new chapter, and I don’t even like ice cream! That’s how good this book is, it makes you want things you don’t even like.
Let me start by saying that I haven’t read the first book in this series, so I was worried I would go into this book not knowing any of the characters, but thankfully character backgrounds are fleshed out towards the beginning of this book so I immediately felt comfortable reading this. I will try to pick up the first book however, because reading Drowned Vanilla just made me more and more curious as to Tabitha’s adventure in the first book.
Okay now onto the book. Drowned Vanilla is a truly magical book. I wasn’t expecting to like it as much as I did, I was worried it might be a bit too eccentric in a ‘trying too hard to be different’ kind of way, but this book balances all it’s elements perfectly. It has just the right amount of romance without overpowering the story or taking away from the plot, whilst also having enough crime that I wasn’t dissatisfied, and to top it off it added interesting elements like recipes and blog entries which kept the story fresh and engaging.
This book is set in Tasmania, which was really interesting to me because I do live in Tasmania and I’ve never read a fictional novel set here before so it was really exciting to read this and be surrounded by that sense of familiarity.
The characters are what really make this book special. They were all written with such care and given such distinctive voices, I was never bored or irritated reading them, even the characters I didn’t care for. Tabitha is definitely going on my list of favourite protagonists, she is intelligent and confident, but she is also flawed, and I couldn’t help fall in love with her as the book went on. I loved reading Stewart too, he’s a character I’m going to remember for a long time. I especially like that Stewart’s Scottish accent was written as it would have been spoken, it made him even more fun to read.
The pacing of this book is great too, not once did I feel like it was rushing for a conclusion, or dawdling to add more pages, it was done so well I wasn’t bored reading this once. The mystery element of this was great because I was intrigued from the beginning about the murder, but also didn’t manage to guess what was going to happen at the end.
So I definitely think this book is worth reading and I will follow the series as it goes on, I’m excited to see what Tabitha gets up to next. Please read it, it's going to be different than anything you've ever read before.
May 22, 2015
Slightly girly, crazy comic crime fiction is not my normal cup of tea, and add a plethora of recipes and this reader should, by rights, be groaning and moaning and whinging. But not with The Culinary Crime / Café La Femme series of which DROWNED VANILLA is the second book. (As opposed to THE BLACKMAIL BLEND 1.5 which is a collection of short stories).
Pitched at a very particular market this isn't indepth, psychological analysis of crime and consequences. If anything more time and effort is devoted to the search for the perfect Ice-Cream recipe than is expended on the death of the young woman, drowned in a lake. Which is a bit unfair, because in the middle of cars, vintage clothes, love interests and side distractions, ice cream recipes and baking muffins, there is a mystery that's resolved.
The style employed in writing these books is pitch-perfect for the audience they will attract. Silly and fun, there's enough of an edge in the death of this young girl, her time in The Gingerbread House, the connections between all the residents there, and the small town of Flynn to keep fans of cosier, lighter-hearted mysteries satisfied on all fronts. And some of the recipes, to be frank, are to die for, and yes they have been transferred to the cookbook for trying out. Some on the other hand should be consigned to the scrap bin as a matter of urgency.
Fans of more pointed, gritty books might find themselves overly distracted by the side-issues bought up in DROWNED VANILLA, and goodness knows Tabitha Darling's obsession with vintage clothes, shoes and handbags makes me wonder about my sanity when I say that these are very readable books, but let's face it - we're talking entertainment here.
DROWNED VANILLA, and it's predecessor A TRIFLE DEAD are really great examples of daft, funny, cosy, silly, culinary crime. They are deftly written, pitched for their target market perfectly. Whilst there's plenty of eccentricity in all of the characters, there's a refreshing lack of idiocy (particularly on the part of the women). There's some romantic tension of course, and that old perennial of the love triangle dilemma but it's more fun than angst-ridden and either choice of bloke would be fine with many readers. Of course it's a bit silly and there is nothing in the world wrong with a bit of silly every now and again. Especially when it comes with ice-cream.
http://www.austcrimefiction.org/revie...
Pitched at a very particular market this isn't indepth, psychological analysis of crime and consequences. If anything more time and effort is devoted to the search for the perfect Ice-Cream recipe than is expended on the death of the young woman, drowned in a lake. Which is a bit unfair, because in the middle of cars, vintage clothes, love interests and side distractions, ice cream recipes and baking muffins, there is a mystery that's resolved.
The style employed in writing these books is pitch-perfect for the audience they will attract. Silly and fun, there's enough of an edge in the death of this young girl, her time in The Gingerbread House, the connections between all the residents there, and the small town of Flynn to keep fans of cosier, lighter-hearted mysteries satisfied on all fronts. And some of the recipes, to be frank, are to die for, and yes they have been transferred to the cookbook for trying out. Some on the other hand should be consigned to the scrap bin as a matter of urgency.
Fans of more pointed, gritty books might find themselves overly distracted by the side-issues bought up in DROWNED VANILLA, and goodness knows Tabitha Darling's obsession with vintage clothes, shoes and handbags makes me wonder about my sanity when I say that these are very readable books, but let's face it - we're talking entertainment here.
DROWNED VANILLA, and it's predecessor A TRIFLE DEAD are really great examples of daft, funny, cosy, silly, culinary crime. They are deftly written, pitched for their target market perfectly. Whilst there's plenty of eccentricity in all of the characters, there's a refreshing lack of idiocy (particularly on the part of the women). There's some romantic tension of course, and that old perennial of the love triangle dilemma but it's more fun than angst-ridden and either choice of bloke would be fine with many readers. Of course it's a bit silly and there is nothing in the world wrong with a bit of silly every now and again. Especially when it comes with ice-cream.
http://www.austcrimefiction.org/revie...
October 31, 2014
Drowned Vanilla by Livia Day is the second Culinary Crime novel, following A Trifle Dead which I reviewed last year. I think Drowned Vanilla is a bit less geeky, but I think I enjoyed the twists and turns of the mystery more. This isn't spec fic, by the way, it's firmly realistic crime/mystery.
This is another mystery story in the same vein as A Trifle Dead. If you enjoyed that book, definitely read Drowned Vanilla. I believe this is what's known as a cosy mystery. Tabitha is called up by a friend of a friend to help find a girl who's mysteriously disappeared. The disappearance turns out to be only the beginning (of course) and soon Tabitha is haring back and forth across the Tasmanian country side trying to get to the bottom of things — or trying unsuccessfully not to get more involved.
As well as the mystery elements, the story involves Tabitha's quest to make all the ice cream flavours (except vanilla) and inflict them on her friends (several recipes included). And her ongoing love-life confusion. The love triangle set up in the first book continues to be a source of angst for her and slight confusion for the reader (or, well, me anyway). I don't find it an annoying addition to the story, but I found her choices odd (I'm on Team The Other One, is what I'm saying).
But basically, Drowned Vanilla was an excellent book and I pretty much read it in two sittings. There were only two things I didn't like: the dearth of dairy-free frozen deserts (somewhat inevitable), and the fact that the Greek family celebrated Christmas in December (with no comment as to why, which made me a bit sad). I feel confident most readers won't be bothered by either of those elements.
Drowned Vanilla is a gripping and entertaining read and I recommend it to anyone who likes crime novels, banter and/or Tansy Rayner Roberts' other writing. If you enjoyed A Trifle Dead, I don't think you'll be disappointed.
4.5 / 5 stars
You can read more of my reviews on my blog.
This is another mystery story in the same vein as A Trifle Dead. If you enjoyed that book, definitely read Drowned Vanilla. I believe this is what's known as a cosy mystery. Tabitha is called up by a friend of a friend to help find a girl who's mysteriously disappeared. The disappearance turns out to be only the beginning (of course) and soon Tabitha is haring back and forth across the Tasmanian country side trying to get to the bottom of things — or trying unsuccessfully not to get more involved.
As well as the mystery elements, the story involves Tabitha's quest to make all the ice cream flavours (except vanilla) and inflict them on her friends (several recipes included). And her ongoing love-life confusion. The love triangle set up in the first book continues to be a source of angst for her and slight confusion for the reader (or, well, me anyway). I don't find it an annoying addition to the story, but I found her choices odd (I'm on Team The Other One, is what I'm saying).
But basically, Drowned Vanilla was an excellent book and I pretty much read it in two sittings. There were only two things I didn't like: the dearth of dairy-free frozen deserts (somewhat inevitable), and the fact that the Greek family celebrated Christmas in December (with no comment as to why, which made me a bit sad). I feel confident most readers won't be bothered by either of those elements.
Drowned Vanilla is a gripping and entertaining read and I recommend it to anyone who likes crime novels, banter and/or Tansy Rayner Roberts' other writing. If you enjoyed A Trifle Dead, I don't think you'll be disappointed.
4.5 / 5 stars
You can read more of my reviews on my blog.
March 31, 2015
thought I'd reviewed this already. Better than book one - holds together better as a story; the characters are less two dimensional. I wasn't expecting more than a bit of a romp, given the first one - detective noir/murder mystery, with protagonist whose two true loves are clothes and creating food. Oh, and a bit of a confusing romance aspect that was a little on the heavy handed side.
Having said that - I read it in one sitting, I ignored my family to do so, and I was fascinated by the way that the disparate aspects of the story pulled together.
Having said that - I read it in one sitting, I ignored my family to do so, and I was fascinated by the way that the disparate aspects of the story pulled together.
November 2, 2015
Tabitha just is not vanilla.
I have read the full series so far. Bloody brilliant! I would suggest you read them in order,otherwise some things may not make sense. The characters in this series are so normal that these books could be real. Like you could really walk into Tabitha's cafe and meet everyone. I could not put the books down until I read them all. Hope we don't have to wait for long til the next installment Perfect cozy mystery with a little romance.
I have read the full series so far. Bloody brilliant! I would suggest you read them in order,otherwise some things may not make sense. The characters in this series are so normal that these books could be real. Like you could really walk into Tabitha's cafe and meet everyone. I could not put the books down until I read them all. Hope we don't have to wait for long til the next installment Perfect cozy mystery with a little romance.
March 10, 2016
I did enjoy this book, but I'm having a fairly hard time with the heroine and her romantic drama. The confusion that she's dealing with in the book is something that I find really upsetting and unfair to everyone in the situation. I do like the prose and the story is good, and while I have a bit of a :\ about the structure (staggered climaxes leave me a bit cold), it did keep me interested and engaged. But triangles leave me cold these days, even when they're "confused".
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 19, 2016
A crowd sourced film noir mystery, the murder of a woman, and a web cam house. You'd think these things have nothing in common, but they do. Add in Tabitha's amazing cafe, experiments with ice cream flavours, romancing a police officer and also flirting with a Scottich blogger and you have "Drowned Vanilla." I love the Cafe La Femme series!
October 9, 2015
I really enjoyed it despite that swearing. The fact that there was stunned time between the last book and this one was nice. I also appreciated that the events from the previous book effected their actions. The elements I enjoyed from book one are still there too. overall, this was a really fun read.
January 18, 2016
At first it seemed that this might be a light, funny read, but it soon lost steam. The style quickly became tedious - or perhaps I just don't "get" the speaking style of today's young people! I found the storyline a bit convoluted and the characters not terribly convincing. Light entertainment, but don't expect too much.
January 9, 2017
Tabitha Darling doesn't want to investigate a disappearance or a murder. She wants to experiment with ice cream flavors. However, her friends and circumstances conspire against her.
Tabitha is such a fun character and the banter between characters is laugh out loud funny. The mysteries were intriguing and unique.
Tabitha is such a fun character and the banter between characters is laugh out loud funny. The mysteries were intriguing and unique.
November 11, 2015
Still waaaaiting for Tabitha to realise that poly is a Thing!
December 23, 2014
Loved this one as much as the first. These books are not only clever, but giggle-worthy. :)
February 6, 2018
I wanted to lick ice cream off the cute Scottish guy by the end of the first chapter. Another gloriously giggly, cosy crime read from Livia!
June 20, 2016
Fun culinary mystery - set in December, the perfect Christmas holiday read, and temptingly filled with ice-cream recipes.
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