Recipe For Murder

A Cozy Crumb Mystery #1

by Lisa Harris

RECIPE FOR MURDER

This cozy mystery series begins with Recipe For Murder. Pricilla Crumb, a superb cook and articulate hostess, plans an informal buffet at her son’s mountain lodge, but the dinner party turns to chaos when a guest is found dead after sampling one of her salmon-filled tartlets. Pricilla’s determination to save her reputation and find out the truth begins her unofficial career as a novice detective—and second chance for romance.

Laugh and cry along with Chef Pricilla Crumb in this three book series. As the guest list at her son’s Colorado mountain hunting lodge quickly turns into a suspect list for murder. Then Pricilla’s favorite baker ends up dead with Pricilla caught in a sticky scandal. Finally one of Pricilla’s former culinary students is arrested for murder and in need of her help. And along the way, rejoice as love blooms for Pricilla in a second-chance romance.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Christian Fiction, Romance, Contemporary, Culinary, Cozy

174 pages, ebook

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

LISA HARRIS is a Christy Award finalist for Blood Ransom, Vendetta, and Port of Origin, Christy Award winner for Dangerous Passage, and the winner of the Best Inspirational Suspense Novel for 2011 (Blood Covenant) and 2015 (Vendetta) from Romantic Times.

She has fifty novels and novellas in print. She and her family work as missionaries in southern Africa. Lisa loves hanging out with her family, cooking different ethnic dishes, photography, and heading into the African bush on safari. Visit Lisa’s website to learn more.

Reviews

[Lindsey (Books for Christian Girls) · Rating 3 out of 5]

About this book:

“Pricilla never expected to be involved in a real life mystery, but that's exactly where she finds herself when she joins her son at his hunting lodge in the beautiful Colorado mountains. A superb cook and articulate hostess, Priscilla plans an informal buffet for the guests at her son's hunting lodge. But the dinner party turns to chaos when a guest is found dead after sampling one of her salmon-filled tartlets.”


Series: Book #1 in the “Cozy Crumb Mystery” trilogy.


Spiritual Content- Scriptures are mentioned, quoted, & talked about; Prayers; Witnessing; Talks about God, Jesus, His timing, sin consequences, & worrying; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; Mentions of God & thanking Him; Mentions of prayers; Mentions of faiths & churches; Mentions of sins; A few mentions of those in the Bible; A few mentions of blessings; A couple mentions of Christmas; A couple mentions of priests & minsters;
*Note: Mentions of a woman leaving her faith.


Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘stupid’; All about mentions of a murder, death, poison, the body, & the murderer; Mentions of pain, broken bones, blood, & bodies (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of jail/prison & inmates; Mentions of blackmail; Mentions of gossip; Mentions of a divorce; Mentions of hunting & hunting trips; A couple mentions of drinking; A couple mentions of betting & poker; A couple mentions of tattoos; A couple mentions of vomiting; A mention of the mafia; A mention of drugs.


Sexual Content- 1 barely-above-not-detailed kiss; Touches (barely-above-not-detailed); Noticing & Smelling; Mentions of noticing; Mentions of flirting, blushes, wanting to touch, & jealousy; Mentions of dates & dating; Mentions of falling/being in love; A couple mentions of sexual immorality & debauchery; A mention of a Casanova; Love, falling/being in love, & the emotions;
*Note: Mentions of spouses having affairs; Mentions of husband who left their wives; Mentions of a young woman flirting with a man double her age; A couple mentions of plastic surgery & liposuction.

-Pricilla Crumb, age 64
-Max Summers, age 65
P.O.V. switches between them
250 pages

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Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- Two Stars
Older High School Teens- Three Stars
My personal Rating- Three Stars
This was a little “cozy mystery” that had a murder (however, it’s not a suspense murder book), but there was a bit of a sweet romance/matchmaking and quite a bit of Spiritual Content for such a small book!


Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...


*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.

[Tracy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this cozy mystery better than the first one I read. No, it's not a literary masterpiece, but it did fulfill my needs at the time I read it - a light, easy read that entertained me. Sometimes that's all I'm looking for when I pick up a book.

[Emmalynn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Priscilla is just not.. likeable, to me at least. She’s very rigid in her thinking and basically is annoying.

[Loraine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5

Light, easy-to-read, cozy mystery with a touch of romance. This is one of Lisa Harris' early cozies before she began her more in-depth romantic suspense.

[Leeankh · Rating 1 out of 5]

If I had noticed that this was a Christian mystery novel, I never would have requested it from paperbackswap.com. But, as it stands, I didn't notice it and it's a shame. I don't mind a little bit of religion in novels, but I need for it to be VERY subtle. However, in this case, the author even mentions in her blurb that she sees writing as an extension of her ministry. For me, that is NOT a good thing. It was far too preachy for me and I just did not like the book. If you enjoy mysteries with a Christian theme, then you will likely love this book. If you don't enjoy that, then just steer clear and save yourself the trouble. I wish I hadn't read it. I hate leaving such a negative review for a book, but it can't be helped in this case. Sorry!

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the first in the series, I really enjoyed it.

While Pricilla is helping out her Son ( at his Hunting Lodge )..a Guest dies after eating one of her tartlets. She is determined to find out her committed the murder, and starts putting together clues while asking the Lodge's guests questions... ( including the victims wife )
Meanwhile, she is starting to realize her true feelings for her long time friend, Max.

[Angela Holland · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a nice quick book to read on a rainy day. It was the first book by this author that I have read and I enjoyed it. There was a twist so you actually did not know who actually committed the murder until the end of the book. Priscilla is a charming lady who just wants to find the good in people. Max was a cute older man that you fall in love with. You find yourself pulling for Nathan and Tricia through the whole book. This book is a nice mystery book for all ages.

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun loving, Christian cozy mystery. I loved every minute of it! Priscilla who is helping out with the cooking at her son's failing hunting lodge tries to solve the murder that happens at the lodge. It is interesting how she goes about it.
This was my first book by the author and I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

[ChrisGA · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Christian cozy

[Louise E. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story. The book held my interest all the way through.

[Lydia Gates · Rating 3 out of 5]

Christian mystery.

[Kelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Light, clean cozy.

[Donna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Was okay.

[Amy Webster-Bo · Rating 4 out of 5]

took me a few chapters to get into it, but after i did it was pretty good

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good cozy mystery. I really appreciate reading stories about actual Christian characters. It is very refreshing.

[Sharon Jarka · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this series. Loved the characters and the easy reading.

[Anna McFadden · Rating 4 out of 5]

When a guest at her son's hunting lodge Ppricil
A Crumb is decided she will solve te case because she don't trust the new deputy to do the job.

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great, cozy, quick mystery read. Thoroughly enjoyed.

[Janet Sketchley · Rating 3 out of 5]

When retired cooking instructor Pricilla Crumb steps in as chef at her son's hunting lodge, she's hoping to spend time with him and perhaps work herself into a job. Truth told, she also has matchmaking on her mind, having invited her friend Max and his single, charming daughter.

What she's not expecting is murder.

When one of the guests dies, Pricilla involves herself in the investigation. Max appoints himself as her protector, with matchmaking ideas of his own. He needs to keep Pricilla safe long enough to discover if they have a chance at a relationship, themselves.

Pricilla is your typical, amateur sleuth, thinking she can take on a murderer. For all the mistakes she makes along the way, she does turn up information that helps solve the case.

It's interesting to watch characters in their 60's begin to navigate the complexities of a new relationship. We'll have to read the rest of the series to see how Max and Pricilla tackle what will be a long-distance relationship (and she doesn't even use email).

I found the delivery a little slow, and Pricilla would annoy me if I lived with her. She's a kind person, though, with a concern for people's spiritual needs as well as their physical comfort. And she's an amazing cook.

Recipe for Murder is a cozy mystery that's good for an easy read without a lot of tension. Sometimes that's exactly what we need.

Award-winning Lisa Harris also writes higher-stakes romantic suspense, including her Southern Crimes series. Her website is presently under renovations but she's still active on her blog: myblogintheheartofafrica.blogspot.ca. I received my ebook copy of Recipe for Murder for free by signing up for her author newsletter, which you can do on her blog. The rest of the Cozy Crumb Mystery Series is available through the regular online booksellers.

[Review copy from my personal library.]

[Crystal · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is a Christian novel which for the story line means no cursing and no sex. While too much of those things can be distracting, I don't think that is a realistic view of people's lives and something was missing. The plot line was good and kept the pages turning but I wanted more from the characters. They seemed a little watered down by their lack of depth at times.

[Sandra Kent · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and looking to read the others in the series. It is so nice to read a book without all the sex, language and blatent violence. It is also a book that encourages me. I get so tired of all the other mystery books and am delighted to have found Lisa Harris and her books.

[Marcie Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a simple christian novel, about a murder taking place in a Colorado mountain lodge. A mother comes to help her son at the lodge and mistakenly kills a guest of the lodge with her cooking??? ...or did she???

[Joan Arning · Rating 3 out of 5]

Recipe for Murder was an entertaining story of an older lady determined to find the murderer of a guest at her son's lodge. This book is a mixture of romance and mystery. The story was a little slow moving but had an unusual twist.

[Dee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this series. I’m a sucker for the hallmark mystery channel and A Cozy Crumb Mystery series fulfilled my expectations. It’s a book you would enjoy reading on a cold and quiet day while drinking coffee and wrapped up in a warm blanket.

[joyce lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

loved it! loved that the main character was as old as she was, yet, did what she did, and even had the chance for a 2nd chance!

will definitely look forward to more from this new series

[Jeannie and Louis Rigod · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very gentle and easy to read cozy murder mystery. It has a gentle theme and even young readers would be entertained.

[Funny Face :) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has the slow start but once it escalates you wont want to stop some thing you never imagined take place.

[Kim · Rating 1 out of 5]

Didn't hold my attention. Didn't read very much of the story.

[Valerie Curtis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay mystery. Terrible editing and I wasn't thrilled with the religious overtone.

[Joy Gerbode · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable enough cozy mystery ... set in the mountains of Colorad, so I enjoyed the setting ... with a spiritual message included in the interaction of ameteur sleuth Priscilla Crumb.