Death in Four Courses

Key West Food Critic Mystery #2

by Lucy Burdette

The annual Key West Loves Literature seminar is drawing the biggest names in food writing from all over the country, and Haley Snow is there to catch a few fresh morsels of insider gossip. Superstar restaurant critic Jonah Barrows has already ruffled a few foodie feathers with his recent tell-all memoir, and as keynote speaker, he promises more of the same jaw-dropping honesty.

But when Hayley discovers Jonah's body in a nearby dipping pool, the cocktail-hour buzz takes a sour turn, and Hayley finds herself at the center of attention—especially with the police. Now it's up to her to catch the killer before she comes to her own bitter finish.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Cozy, Food, Audiobook, Mystery Thriller

320 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 4, 2012

About the author

Clinical psychologist Lucy Burdette writes the USA Today best-selling Key West food critic mysteries, a cozy, culinary mystery series starring food critic Hayley Snow, including #16, A DELICIOUS DECEPTION. A CLUE IN THE CRUMBS, won the Florida Book Award's gold medal for popular fiction. Both the 12th book in the series, A DISH TO DIE FOR, and the 10th, THE KEY LIME CRIME, won bronze medals for popular fiction from the Florida Book Awards. Lucy's first women's fiction title, THE INGREDIENTS OF HAPPINESS, came out in July 2023.

As Roberta Isleib, she wrote the golf lover's mystery series (SIX STROKES UNDER) and the advice column mysteries (DEADLY ADVICE.)

Lucy's books and stories have been short-listed for Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity awards.

She is a past president of National Sisters in Crime and the Friends of the Key West Library.

Reviews

[Linda Langford]

Excellent story!

[Anne (Booklady) Molinarolo]

Death in Four Courses is the second installment in the Key West Food Critic Mystery Series and I devoured it in one afternoon. Haley Snow is happily working for "Key Zest" Magazine as it's newest Food Critic. She should be on Cloud 9, but the magazine's owner, the sister of the dead woman from the debut novel, is looking for any excuse to fire Hayley. And her mother, Janet Snow, has just arrived to attend the Key West Literary Festival with her. No pressure, then. Hayley will get morsels of gossip and hopefully an exclusive interview with one of the giants in the Food writing industry...hopefully. And there are the mandatory restaurant review.

Everything seems to be going well until Hayley finds the Festival's Key Note Speaker in a small decorative pond, not breathing. When the KWPD zeroes in on one of her best friends, both Hayley and her mother start sniffing around to out the real killer.

I love Hayley who is pleasantly similar to her mother. I can still see them tooling around on the Island on their scooters. The city and Island are again a character in the novel, and I fell in love yet again with the Island I often visited when I lived in Fort Lauderdale. Hayley still jabbers away when she gets nervous and her weight still bothers her, but she's grown as a character. I'll definitely read the next in the series!

[Sara]

I didn't relate as well with the characters in this second installment of the Key West Food series. Though I still love hearing about all the local things to do in Key West. Small mentions like the oldest house that get overlooked is so true. It was nice and refreshing. Am still debating on reading the next addition to this series.

[Linda]

I’m glad I finally got back to this series! Hayley is a fun character and I like her friends and family as well. The conference setting was fun and provided lots of suspects. Lots of yummy sounding food and recipes provided at the end of the book.

[Jennifer]

"Everything is for sale in Key West - for the right price". Hayley Snow is a local food critic in Key West for the magazine Key Zest, and she is barely hanging on to her job after the events in the second book of the series, Topped Chef. Her mother, a fabulous chef of the past, has decided to join her for her first food seminar which adds an element of anxiety to prove herself to not only her job, but also her mother.

This novel takes us through twists and turns and a few homicides of key persons at the seminar, in which Hayley becomes an initial person of interest, and later an "unofficial" investigator as one of her best friends is arrested for the murder. We are also given a taste of the mysterious Detective Nate Bransford and their newly budding interest in one another.

The title alone of this book made me hungry, and there was no lack of amazing food throughout the book. The detailed description of the courses that were either prepared or eaten made my imagination want to take a trip to Key West. I appreciate some of the key recipes being featured in the back of the book!

The book was well written as I did not feel out of place for starting on book 3 and not book 1. Anyone with a love for food, mystery or cozy mystery novels will thoroughly enjoy this book. I look forward to enjoying the other books in this series.

[Heidi Prockish]

There is just something about this series that sucks me in and keeps me hungry for more. I loved seeing Haley with her mom throughout this book. I have a great relationship with my mom and it was so fun to relate to Haley in that way. With multiple careers on the line, two murders, and a close friend as the number one suspect, Haley and her mom team up to hunt down the killer! Really good story and I am looking forward to book 3 😁.

[Bridget]

Hayley Snow is thrilled with her new job as a food writer for Key Zest magazine. When a literary conference comes to Key West, she knows some of the most famous food writers will be in attendance. She buys herself tickets, as well as treating her mother to the conference as well, and giving her a chance to visit.

On the first night of the conference, Hayley finds the body of Jonah Barrows, the keynote speaker and one of the most well-known authors there. Next, one of her dear friends, who is not even attending the conference, is arrested for the murder. So now it's up to Hayley and her mother to figure out just who is responsible among the other attendees.

This series is entertaining. Hayley is someone who is excited about her job, but also insecure about her abilities, and worried that the woman who is co-owner of the magazine (and who does not like Hayley) is going to have her fired at any minute. There are also some really interesting descriptions of Key West and places there, which is also fun to read (as someone who has never visited).

I'll look for another one of this series.

[Donna]

This is the 2nd book in the Key West Food Critic Mystery and it was just as good as the first one. Haley goes to a literary conference where food writing authors are participants. Hayley's mom comes to visit and to go to the conference also. Everything is going great until Hayley discovers the restaurant critic and keynote speaker Jonah Barrows' body in a dipping pool and when her best friend, Eric is arrested for the murder Hayley and her mom decided to do their own sleuthing. The characters are all well-developed and she added a couple of new characters (though probably not permanent) to this book. The one thing I like about this series is there are always several suspects and you really don't know until the end who the killer is. Keeps you on your toes. Great writing, fantastic description of the Key West area and especially the local people. Highly recommended series. I'm ready for book 3.

[Donna McKenzie]

Key West location may as well be an extra character in this delightful series. Food and critics mix in this mystery set at a literary festival. One of the writers is quickly murdered and the main character finds him. She investigates along with her mother who is visiting for the festival. While investigating there is a second murder. The end is quite good I couldn't figure out who had done it.

[Teresa mcgaha]

I read it I am glad it is done but will not read another. Everything I loved about the first book is still her because I feel like I am reading the same book just a different setting and another dead body.


Hayley stumbles across the dead body and once again she is a suspect. Her mother is introduced into this book, why I don't know. The couple who appeared so solid in the first book, is ripped apart by a secret that wasnt even that big when revealed.

I finished this book for a challenge otherwise it would be a DNF, but the series is a DNF

[Patrizia]

Ma sì, aggiungo mezza stella. Questo mi è piaciuto più del primo, sebbene un paio di volte avrei voluto dare uno scrollone alla protagonista. Sinceramente non apprezzo la sua credulità nei tarocchi, ma cercherò di chiudere un occhio.

[Kayt18]

I love this series - A Key West Food Critic Mystery. And I dont even like Florida or the sun, but author Lucy Burdette almost makes Key West sound like a place I would enjoy living in. The food sure does sound good. Main character Hayley Snow is fun, intelligent, witty and definitely someone I would love to be friends with. In this installment, number 2 in the series, the annual Key West Literary conference is bringing in all the heavy hitters in the food writing world. Hayley is so excited to be going in her work capacity as new food critic for the Key West magazine. And her mother has flown done to join her.
Things are going ok when Hayley finds the body of superstar Jonah Barrows in a pool at the dinner get together. And yep he is not breathing. It really turns bad when one of her dear friends becomes the prime suspect. The friendships and family relationships are wonderful to read. This book is populated with quirky and entertaining characters. The writing is excellent as well.
Even if you have never read a book in this series you will thoroughly enjoy Death in Four Courses. Funny and intelligent, this is a wonderful cozy series and this installment is super. The mystery is intriguing and keeps you guessing. Author Lucy Burdette is a fabulous writer and I think you will be delighted reading this book.
I was given this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

[Ronna]

Hayley Snow is enjoying her new job as the food critic for "Key Zest" magazine in Key West, Florida. Her new assignment sounds exciting because she's going to attend a literary conference of food writers. She's excited and a little apprehensive because her mom's coming from New Jersey to attend with her. But when the popular controversial guest speaker winds up dead in a decorative pool, her mom's "help" causes it's own problems, and once again, Hayley gets caught up in a stew of deadly suspects.

Chapter headings of quotes authors have used about food are fascinating. The characters continue to grow more interesting as we learn more and more about them in this second Key West Food Critic mystery. The inner workings of cookbook authors adds another dimension to this story with clues that send the reader in many directions. Might as well make one of the tasty recipes included in the book, like the Hot Fudge Pie, because the food descriptions will send you seeking something equally luscious to snack upon while you read this foodie mystery.

[Mark Baker]

Key West's annual literary conference is focusing on food this year, something that excites Hayley since she is now covering food for a local magazine. However, when she finds the keynote speaker floating face down in a reflection pool, her weekend gets crowded with sleuthing as well as food.

I really did enjoy this book. The characters are great and the plot is complex enough I didn't have a clue what was happening until Hayley did. My only complaint is the relationship between Hayley and her mother, who is visiting during the book. It's realistic, but at times the way they interacted drove me crazy. I love how they grew as a result of spending the time around each other, however, so it was a great sub-plot in the end.

Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.

[Jennifer]

Book 2 in the Key West food critic series. The series continues to delight with yet another murder, and Hayley finds the body. Her good friend Eric is implicated. And mom is visiting....what else can go wrong?

The series continues to build characters in installment 2, and we also continue to work on a possible romantic interest with the police detective. All in all, well done. Recipes at the end, and the chocolate pie looks super!

[Julesy]

First off, this book was just not that interesting, quite boring, and I struggled to get through it. I liked the first book pretty much so I figured I would persevere to see if it improved, then ... a racist excerpt. Miss King may have looked Oriental, but she’s as American as you or me.

Ms. Burdette, please get some awareness. The character Miss King was Asian-American and thus looked Asian, NOT Oriental. Objects are oriental, such as rugs, vases, etc. 🤬 UGH!!! This offended me so much so I now do not want to read another book by this author. I don't care whether these books take place in lovely Key West. It's now ruined for me.

[Amy Marie]

I didn't like this one as much as the first one. The characters were still colorful and I liked how Hayley's relationship with her mom grew throughout this book. However, this book had a couple of tired stereotypes in it which I didn't love and the character was less proactive than I would like. Still planning on reading the third book in the series and making up my mind about the series based on that! The local color and writing snippets were fun as always. Loved the mystery too!

[Mary]

Lucy Burdette's Key West Food Critic Mysteries. If I keep reading these, and I know I will, my bikini days are over. (well, okay, so they were over 3 kids and 5 grandkids ago ~ but you get the drift) I'll make the sacrifice, after all, calories fuel the brain. Major plus when it comes to solving mysteries.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[yare]

2.5 stars; the way i JOKINGLY guessed the murderer was the best part of this book honestly.

it was fine, wasn't gripping the edge of my seat or anything. what irked me the most is what pushed the plot throughout the entire book. like girl, can't you just mind your business?

[Ellen]

Getting better!

[Robin Tobin (On the back porch reading)]

Key West and food, in a cosy mystery, what more could you want?

[Nolan]

I went into this four-star book hoping I would find a better, more well-grounded Hayley Snow. I did. She disappointed me only once, and she did her best to make up for it in the final chapter. The whole novel is first-person Hayley, which is why her growth and her worst remark both land as self-indictment rather than as plot business happening to someone else.

I heard the book in ElevenReader through Jessica Anne Bogart’s licensed voice clone. The commercial audiobook is Laura Jennings for Dreamscape, about seven hours and twenty-three minutes, released in 2023. Bogart is a Canadian-American actress and voice actor, raised in Edmonton and Vancouver and later based in Los Angeles, with credits that include Mass Effect 2, Mirror’s Edge Catalyst, Adventure Time, and Guild Wars 2. She has publicly attached her voice to ElevenLabs and has said the clone kept more of her intonation than she expected. I know little else about her except that she has given permission for this use. On this particular cozy, her voice read as well as or better than Jennings. For anyone listening by BARD Mobile app or via a desktop web browser, that is the practical news: a consented library voice can meet a professional human narrator on Lucy Burdette’s sentences.

Book two opens with Hayley working as the food critic for "Key Zest", a new lifestyle magazine that caters to Key West residents and tourists. She lives on a houseboat with octogenarian Miss Gloria, cooks in that galley, and gets around the island by scooter. She may not hold the job for long. Ava Faulkner, sister of the woman the police thought Hayley killed in the first book, harbors serious ill will and looks for ways to fire her. Hayley’s boss, Wally, stays firmly in her corner. For now. Rather than whimpering or treating the threat as unavoidable, Hayley shows real discipline and turns in pieces Wally can use, pieces good enough for him to defend his decision to hire her. That growth is one of the book’s strongest components. This installment can stand on its own because Burdette briefly supplies what you need from book one, but the read is far richer if you start with An Appetite for Murder. You will see more clearly how Hayley changes in the right direction.

Hayley draws an assignment to cover the Key West Loves Literature seminar, turned that year toward food writing, and invites her mother, Janet Snow, down from New Jersey’s January chill to bask in the life Hayley has come to love. They put Janet up at first with Eric and Bill. Eric grew up with Hayley in New Jersey. Hayley’s love of food is genetic. Janet is a food person too, though without Hayley’s professional foothold. She taught Hayley to cook when she was very young, and this is her first appearance in the series.

On night one, the keynote speaker is Jonah Barrows, a noted expert in the culinary world. He has already published a tell-all memoir. The speech is not his first offense. Instead of boosting the egos of the food writers in attendance, he takes potshots at the more prominent ones, sneers at pretentious restaurant food — musk ox sprinkled with elderberries and served on twigs — and vows utter transparency. Thin-skinned, egotistical writers come away outraged. He threatens to expose the underbelly of the food-writing industry, including secrets some of the more famous writers do not want disclosed. The book is needling that world’s vanity, which is the witty part of the cozy. As you no doubt guessed, a mystery of this kind needs a villain, and Jonah Barrows fills that role until someone murders him. Naturally Hayley finds him during cocktail hour, in a dipping pool, an ornamental pond with water lilies. Once again she stands at loggerheads with Detective Nate Bransford, the local cop she would much rather take to bed. A slow-burn romance is underway between them, and it matters a great deal. In later books the relationship goes further. Here it is still early-series heat and friction. I still struggle to understand why he stays so brusque with her even when they are nowhere near a crime scene, though some readers may argue Burdette accounts for that in the final scene. Fortunately Hayley is not a suspect this time, but the police eventually arrest her childhood friend Eric and charge him with the murder. The arrest feels like a diversion, red-herring stuff. The real puzzle is why Eric refused to talk about it once he became a suspect. That silence did not hurt the reading experience, but both this book and the first keep alluding to his haggard appearance. The novels will not say what that weariness is doing.

Barrows is not the only casualty of the highly charged event. Before it ends, his killer also murders Yoshe King, the conference’s Chinese-food specialist. Hayley and Janet find her on the waterfront rocks below her bed-and-breakfast balcony, and the book pauses long enough to ask whether the death is suicide or murder. Then Janet goes missing. That is the stretch where the visit-and-a-conference story drops away. The book includes that inevitable moment when the killer tries to end Hayley’s life to keep her from discovering the truth. This time the stakes rise because the killer also plans to kill Hayley’s mother, and Hayley cannot find her.

I prefer to reserve one of my five stars as a final judgment. Was the book memorable enough to earn that fifth star? Will it stay with me for days or weeks? This one was a delight to read, and I can say nothing but positive things about Burdette’s writing style and her ability to draw me into the lives of her characters. In the ear, Key West is heat, water, restaurant rooms, and cocktail-hour food talk, and the first-person voice makes that wash over you rather than sit there as postcard scenery. The book does not quite meet the profound reading event memory test, and I am not sure this story could have been crafted into something that would haunt or disturb me for days and weeks afterward. The genre is not twisty thriller material. It is meant to wash over you and leave you smiling and ready for the next installment. This is a series you read with fondness, not with mental electrification. It is emphatically a great way to spend precious reading time, but the plot may not be something you pull up in January if you read it in the fall.

Hayley and Janet clearly love each other, and still the relationship carries the difficulty that so often lives between mothers and daughters. Janet easily embarrasses the sophisticated daughter who is feverishly trying to make a mark on the world. Hayley would be far better served to get over that ill-placed embarrassment and recognize that chances to associate with Mom are not endless. Better to treasure the time you have than to squirm under manufactured discomfort. The one lapse comes when Hayley sneers that her mother could fall back on alimony if necessary, and that Hayley does not have that luxury. It is a stupid, thoughtless thing to say, and it lands worse when she learns that Janet voluntarily refused that support at one point in Hayley’s life. Hayley fixes it with an apology in the final chapter, but the remark still belongs to the self-centered Hayley of book one.

Lucy Burdette is the pen name of Roberta Isleib, a clinical psychologist whose work has been shortlisted for the Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity awards. She splits her time between Connecticut and Key West. That background helps explain why the embarrassment between mother and daughter, and Hayley’s work discipline under a job threat, feel observed rather than cozy-generic. The print book also keeps the culinary-cozy contract and includes recipes, among them a houseboat meat loaf and hot fudge pie. Those extras live more naturally on the page than in the ear, but they belong to the bargain this kind of mystery makes with food-minded readers.

This is book two of a Key West Food Critic run that now stretches well past a dozen titles. If the island, the boat, Miss Gloria, Wally, and that slow burn with Nate suit you, there is a deep bench after this. Start with An Appetite for Murder if you want to watch Hayley change. This one explains enough to function alone.

[Christine Denicola]

Lucy Burdette has found a way to set her writing apart from the other mysteries crowding the “cozy” field. Death in Four Courses is the second in a series of books but the first one that I've read. Not only is her protagonist Hayley unique, dressed in her yellow silk “work shirt” with palm trees liberally sprinkled on it and working as a food critic for "Key Zest" … but Ms. Burdette's style of writing also brought surprises in each chapter. When she described another food critic’s foray into the Los Angeles scene as a “tsunami of foodie controversy” … I knew I would love this book.

And love it I did …

And, with the same critic dead within the first few chapters, I had something I could "sink my teeth into" ... and I don't mean the excellent fudge pie for which there is a recipe at the end of the book. I was swept along by the intrigue ... but I also found myself sidetracked, in a good way, by the relationship of Hayley and her mother. With both a 90 year old mother and a daughter ... I could feel myself in both of their shoes. Their conversations were real ... and helped fill in some blanks for me about Hayley. Her other characters were equally well drawn: Miss Gloria and Hayley's possible new love interest. And while I hadn't been to Key West for decades but I think I could go back ... based on the book's description.

As a long time mystery reader, I often can figure out the "whodunnit" and if I can't ... I feel like there weren't any clues. In the case of Death in Four Courses ... I didn't have A clue but when I went back to re-read some passages, I see that the clues were there. Well done, Ms. Burdette. But the highest form of praise that I have for this book is that I’ve already ordered book one of the series An Appetite for Murder and am waiting anxiously for its arrival.

I was given this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

[Stacie Amelotte]

“If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu.”

This is such a fun culinary cozy series. Reading this book was like a mini-vacation. Hayley Snow is a novice food critic for a local Key West magazine. Haley’s adventure includes eating fabulous food, writing about eating fabulous food, and of course, solving crimes and this time she is also juggling entertaining her mom, Janet who is visiting from New Jersey. This mother/daughter duo attends the annual Key West Literary Conference. Both are anxious to meet cookbook authors and food critics admire and they experience some “fan girl” moments. Haley soon finds herself swimming with foodie sharks when she discovers one of the conference participants murdered. When a friend of Haley’s is arrested, the mother/daughter duo becomes quickly entangled in both Haley’s personal and professional life. I enjoy how the author explores Haley’s character as she puts down roots in Key West and furthers her career as a food critic. Ms. Burdette holds so much potential in this series. It is fun to see the development of characters and I look forward to seeing what the future holds. I love the fabulous food, the detailed setting of Key West, the yummy recipes. This is a great series that and I look forward to my next Key West escape.

[Darkand]

Having lived in North Lauderdale for three years, South Florida and the Keys are near and dear to my heart so when I found out there was a foodie cozy mystery series set in Key West, I was ecstatic! Needless to say, I savored each and every page. The main character Hayley had to travel to many familiar (to me) places on the island during the course of this fascinating story. I realize that this is the second book in this series so now I must backtrack to the first one but, the author did a good job of keeping the reader informed enough about Hayley's backstory without drowning you in the previous storyline. I enjoyed most of the characters although I will admit to not taking an instant liking to Hayley's current love interest but, time will tell if he shapes up enough to get into my good graces. The actual mystery was nicely plotted and definitely kept me guessing till the very end. I thoroughly enjoyed this cozy (albeit murderous) little trip down memory lane, and I am looking forward to my next foray into Hayley's Key West!

FTC Note: I won a copy of this book through the Facebook group called The Cozy Mystery Review Crew. No compensation for my review was given.

[Jennifer Gallagher]

Full Disclosure: I won a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

I think Hayley Snow is adorable. She has this idyllic life in Key West, working as a food critic for local restaurants, living on a house boat, zipping around on her little scooter. Her only problem is being in the wrong place at the wrong time!

The second installment of the Key West Food Critic mysteries centers around the Key West Literary Conference - which this year is all about food. The keynote speaker is found dead - by Hayley, of course - with no shortage of suspects. Then, another food writer is found dead - again, by Hayley - and the pressure is on to find the killer (and Hayley's missing mother!) while not ruffling the feathers of her potential paramour, Detective Bransford.

I was surprised by the identity of the killer and glad that one of my favorite characters was exonerated. I'm looking forward to seeing where Hayley and Nate's romance goes! The other thing that I love about this series are the recipes in the back! I look forward to making the Rhubarb Cake!

[Bert]

I find it hard to get past what a pushover Hayley is in her personal and professional life, given that the number one thing that creates an amateur sleuth is their ridiculous doggedness in the arena of solving-crimes-when-they-shouldn't. She lets her mother push her around in a way that is totally inappropriate at a work event, even if it sometimes has good results for her. Also related: the amount of excuses Hayley makes for her boyfriend when he behaves like a child at their date is totally stupid given that she fails to include the only excuse that actually makes sense (don't bring your mum on a first date is all I'm saying, Hayley, even if it's doubling as a work outing).

Anyway Hayley's primary method of crime solving is to flap her hands around uselessly and babble, but so far it's gotten her through two books so who am I to judge.

[Tina]

Great culinary cozy! I am thrilled this wonderful series has made its way onto my "to be read" list. This is the second book in the Key West Food Critic series. Hayley Snow is the food critic and lead character. In this installment in the series Hayley and her mom are attending a food seminar. Unfortunately, the keynote speaker is murdered and Hayley is the one who discovers the body. Hayley begins to do some sleuthing to help solve the case as well as clear the name of one of her friends. As a newbie to this series I felt that this book was very well written and I can't wait to read the rest in the series. Fabulous recipes are included too!!

I was given this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

[Crystal]

Great read. This was a wonderful cozy mystery set in Key West. Hayley Snow, the main character, is a foodie and a new food critic who seems to have a knack for finding herself in the middle of murder investigations. I felt the book was very well written and truly enjoyed the characters. It had me guessing who did it until the end. Be prepared, since Hayley is a foodie there was a lot of food references so as I was reading I became very hungry! :)

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a fun cozy mystery. I am looking forward to reading more in this series.

I was gifted a copy of this book for my honest review.

[Molly]

Fatphobic