Feta and Foul Play

by Joy Patrick

Returning to her sleepy hometown in Pennsylvania is the last thing Julia “JJ” Kamaras thought she’d ever do. So was solving a murder.

Alone in Florida and working a dead-end job at a local gym, JJ’s career and love life weren't exactly on fire. But when disaster struck, her Greek-American father convinced her to come home to the safety of Jim Thorpe, PA, and their family restaurant, the Kamaras Grill.

Though initially happy to be back cooking souvlaki with her father, family tension festered, and JJ’s ex, police officer Ryan, showed up still bitter about their breakup.

Making matters worse, he accused her brother Jason of murder! One that JJ knows he didn’t commit. Or did he?

In a frantic race against the clock, amateur sleuth JJ joined forces with savvy childhood pals to clear Jason’s name. Uncovering scandals and shady characters in the process, JJ found her own life at stake as she descended into a murky casino underworld to save her brother.

Recipes inspired by the Kamaras Grill included!

Genres: Cozy Mystery, Mystery

168 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 23, 2023

Reviews

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining mystery listening 🎶🔰

This kindle e-book novella is from my Kindle Unlimited account book one

She is working in Florida and return home to PA. She is back home but things are different. Then murder happens and her brother is arrested. It all comes to a happy ending 😀.

I would recommend this series and author to 👍 readers family and friends relationships mystery novels 👍🔰. 2024

[Merry Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The beginning of a very promising new series that just makes you want more! JJ is an ex-gymnast and pan am games gold medal winner. She is living above a pizza parlor in Florida, teaching gymnastics at a local gym. When her apartment was broken into, her father in Jim Thorpe, PA got the alarm to his phone, so he knew about it and convinced JJ that she needed to come home and regroup. Her Greek-American father owned a Greek restaurant the family worked in. Her father and her brother were so glad to see her and that she was home and her mother still had a thorn in her side that JJ didn't make the Olympic team like she did in her youth. Cooking along side of her father definitely calmed her nerves and was just what she needed. But then her brother, Jason is accused of murdering his girlfriend and JJ, amateur sleuth has to prove his innocence even though the evidence points directly to him. When the police figured there was no use looking for anyone else and in charge of the police investigation is JJ's ex-boyfriend, Ryan, who still holds a grudge. With her two best friends from childhood, the investigation is on. It takes JJ everywhere including a high roller casino with some very sketchy poker players and she enters a game and holds her own since she is really good at poker. Then there is Max who is the bouncer at the casino who has taken a real liking to JJ and she seems to like him. Will her help her? What seems to be the side hustle of the poker players and the secrets they hold and how was the victim involved since she seemed to be acquainted with the sketchy players. Will detective Ryan believe the evidence she found or does he tell her to stay out of it? Will she be able to clear Jason when Ryan thinks he is guilty? And now, who threw a rock through her parent's window and how did their Greek restaurant burn down? What is going on in Jim Thorpe PA? What a fantastic first book in a series. I really want to read more. I really like the characters and sub-characters like her two school friends. I received and ARC of this book but the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

[Tina Lincoln · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cooking for the real Murderer!
This Greek Inspired murder mystery truly is cooking for an answer! JJ goes home to her little town, where she is noted for being a world winning star, but she really is looking for where to go with her life. She left town and was doing a dead-end job at a local gym, which had its values, but was going no where for her.
She gets home, and Wham!, her brother is booked on murder charges of his girlfriend, who is noted that they often argue, and loudly so the whole street can hear.
So JJ uses her knowledge of poker, to go to a high-stakes table in the local casino (which wasn't there when she left town), and finds out a whole lot! She ends up going on a date with Max, the doorman, and what a gentleman he is too!
JJ goes thru alot of crap from her family, and her ex-boyfriend Ryan, who is now a police officer, to try and get the murder solved, to get her brother out of jail.
Thank you, Joy Patrick for another great story!
I received a complimentary copy of this story, and this is my honest review.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

JJ Kamaras was a rising star in gymnastics until she unexpectedly walked away from the sport before reaching the Olympic level. Seeking a fresh start, she moved away from home, but soon found herself floundering—lacking direction and a sense of accomplishment. After a frightening break-in at her home, JJ decides to step back from her daily routine and return to her hometown for a visit with her parents and adult brother.

Her plans for a quiet visit are quickly upended when her brother is arrested for the murder of their neighbor and his girlfriend. Convinced of his innocence, JJ takes it upon herself to investigate. Enlisting the help of her old high school friends, she dives headfirst into unraveling the mystery. But as they dig deeper, the stakes rise—warnings to back off escalate, and her family’s beloved restaurant is burned to the ground.

This fun, fast-paced mystery is a great start to a promising cozy mystery series! It’s especially exciting to see a story centered around a Greek family, complete with recipes.

I’ll definitely be reading more!

[Jane litherland · Rating 5 out of 5]

awesome cosy

JJ is an ex pan American games gymnast winning the gold on the balance beam , she is living above a pizza restaurant and teaching gymnastics , and an avid mystery solver and poker fan. When a spate of break ins is the last straw, her father on hearing the alarm trigger , him being an emergency contact, implores her to come home if only to see her mother who misses her terribly. So back she goes to Jim Thorpe Pennsylvania. When her brother Jason is accused of murdering his girlfriend, JJ has to put on her amateur sleuthing hat for real , calling on old friends and new to find the real suspect , meanwhile dealing with a devastating fire at their Greek restaurant. Brilliantly devised scenario and subplots , with red herrings amongst the clues . Great characters, sublime writing style and very immersive….

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Something fishy in Jim Thorpe

Definitely not your run of the mill mystery. And can I just say best line ever: there’s something fishy going on lol. JJ a former gymnast is back home in PA after a scary break in at her place in Florida. While there are mixed feelings and some old issues for the most part it’s wonderful to be home until her brother is arrested for murder. Now she’s on the clock fight for his freedom against something nebulous and very scary. But she won’t give up until the truth is revealed.
Loved this mystery! JJ is so real. She is brave, clever, smart and talented. She is willing to do anything for her family. Loved that big Greek family vibe! Twisty mystery with some literal and figurative red herrings lol. Not a huge fan of Ryan he’s a total brat. Loved Becca and I’m totally on team Max! Great story!!

[Cara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Feta and Foul Play. JJ is a very likeable heroine. I would have liked to have known a little more about her life in Florida but that didn't take away from the story. JJ goes back to her hometown with her tail between her legs after an attempted break-in at her apartment in Florida. She is known as the Pan Am Girl due to her winning the Pan Am Games for gymnastics. She's never lived up to her promise. She has to work through her feelings of humiliation and also help clear her brother of murder charges. Together with her two high school friends, the amateur sleuths discover an illegal operation. Very suspenseful with a intriguing mystery filled with twists. Great start to what promises to be a great series. Love the recipes too!

[Paula Corregan · Rating 5 out of 5]

J. J. Kamaras moves back to her old hometown of Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania after being burglarized at her Gainesville, Florida apartment. She discovers the body of Tara Vardayan, one of her parents' neighbors , after finding Tara's front door open and entering her house. J. J. 's brother, Jason, is arrested for Tara's murder because he had been heard arguing with her, and she had split up with him before her body was discovered. J. J. and her friend, Rebecca, attempt to exonerate Jason of the crime and find the real killer. Will they succeed in their mission? Find out by reading this enticing cozy mystery. I highly recommend it to other cozy mystery readers. I received an ARC of this book, and the opinion expressed is strictly my own.

[Katy Cameron · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to give props to this author for coming up with a crime I have never come across in a book before (and not sure I ever will again, I'm not that fond of fish!)

Whilst this was a good start to a series, it felt like there was some back story that we were supposed to know and understand. JJ had left Ryan to go off and make a new start, but every interaction he had with her was sneeringly nasty and for not apparent reason, given that it's the start of the series and she's not interacted with him as a cop while she's been detecting before. There were also some other oddities like her old friend 'Gwen Q', with no real reason why the 'Q' kept getting mentioned. Maybe this and their other friend Rebecca's love of them all investigating came from a kids detective series or something?

[Cat B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a top-notch read this was. I think Joy Patrick has outdone herself. I admired JJ's unwavering belief in her brother's innocence when he is accused of murder and her never give up attitude in finding out the truth. This is not what brought the ex-gymnast home but she quickly immersed herself in sussing out the clues. I like JJ, and found that the secondary characters in the book were a marvelous bunch and very easy to visualize. And on top of a great story are some wonderful greek recipes at the back of the book.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion of the tale.

[Tari · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so good! I gotta admit, I wasn’t sure I’d like it since to me the casino stuff was pretty boring (luckily it didn’t overpower the story), but I was getting invested in the characters so I kept on reading and was so glad I did! Things got exciting pretty quickly once everything was coming together—wow what a showdown!

I loved how JJ and her pal Rebecca sleuthed then added their other friend who Becca finally made up with. Those three were unstoppable amateur sleuths, lol. And there was a good ending for the Kamaras family so now I can’t wait to see if there’ll be more in this series.

[Cynthia Weatherby · Rating 5 out of 5]

At Her Father's Urging, Julia “JJ” Kamaras Moves Back Home to Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania! This was the Last Thing JJ Thought She Would Do! JJ Works at the Kamaras Grill, the Family Restaurant! Then the Police Arrest Jason, JJ's Brother, for the Murder of Tara, His Girlfriend! JJ and Her Friend, Rebecca Need to Find the Real Murderer, so Jason Can Go Free! No Spoilers Now! This Book Has Lots of Interesting Twists and Turns Which Kept My Attention! If You are Like Me and Enjoy an Awesome Cozy Mystery, I Highly Recommend this Book! I am Looking Forward to Reading More Books in this Series!

I Received an ARC Book from the Author! This is My Voluntary and Honest Review!

[Melissa Borsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

J.J. Is back at home in Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania cooking with her dad in their family restaurant, the Kamaras Grill and trying to avoid her ex, Ryan a police officer who is still pretty bitter about their breakup. This becomes even more apparent when J.J.’s brother, Jason is arrested for the murder of a girl he had been dating. JJ knows her brother would never kill anyone and with a little help from her friends she goes up against some pretty shady characters. I found this to be a pretty exciting mystery, with an interesting array of characters and quite a few surprises. I thank Joy Patrick Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sublime cozey murder mystery with intriguing characters all vibrant all colorful some a bit quirky and of course this wouldn't be a murder mystery with out a deadly schemer hidden in plain sight. The interaction of the characters will draw you in the intrigue, lies betrayal and gamble of a lifetime will keep you captivated turning page after page breath held then slowly expelled anxious well the mystery unravels even an added slow burn romance that may come to fusion is gamble. You truly won't see what's coming until the exciting and dramatic comes and the who done it is finally played out. Acquire " Feta and Foul Play " for hours of intriguing and enjoyable entertainment. Kat

[Alice Hazelbaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

JJ Kamaris is back home and working at her family’s restaurant, the Kamaris Grill, a Greek restaurant. She discovers the dead body of a neighbor and her brother Jason is arrested for the murder. JJ knows her brother didn’t do this, even though he had recently had an argument with her when she had broken up with him. JJ convinces her friends to help her investigate to find the real killer. A great bunch of very likable characters who are pretty good sleuths, creating a fun and exciting cozy mystery to read. I received a free copy of this book and write this review voluntarily

[Carol Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing culinary cozy mystery!!!

This the first in a series of culinary based cozy mysteries grabs you from the start. The main character is interesting and intelligent. She is funny at times especially with her sidekicks. The plot has lots of twists and turns. I couldn't put the book down until I was finished. This is the beginning of a series but it is also a stand alone. I recommend this book to all mystery lovers and even those who are not lovers of mystery. This book is that enjoyable.

[Lizz Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cozy mystery series set in the Poconos with the heart and strong family and friendship bonds that Joy Patrick is known for creating. I really enjoyed the development of this story and the characters. I had a lot of suspicions about some of the side characters and when all was revealed it was very satisfying. I look forward to reading more books in this series which I hope Joy continues to create. I also am looking forward to trying some of the delicious recipes included although the thought of working with phyllo dough again is scarier than murder.

[J Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

Swimming where the water’s dirty...

When you no longer feel safe, maybe it’s finally time to go home. So that's what JJ did. She went home to Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania, but bad luck followed. Murder, gangsters, fires? Maybe a burglary wasn’t so bad after all!

This story has a solid mystery plot with good twists and good characters. I enjoyed it and finished it in one day. I received a free copy of the book but my review is honest and voluntary.

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this story about JJ the gymnast that returns to her home town and has to help not only with the family restaurant but in helping prove her brother is innocent of murder. She connects with her old high school friends that help with the investigation. JJ has come home with an addiction to gambling and finds herself in the local casino which also has a tie to the girl her brother is charged with killing. Lots of twists in this story but the good come through in the end.

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was disheartening to see how the neighborhood quickly turned on one of their own without sufficient evidence available. I was gutted for Jason and his family. JJ took this as a personal challenge and began sleuthing in earnest. The Kamara's suffer a lot of loss, but remained a united front, and I admired them and their courage. JJ's persistence to solve the crime to it's evil end was brilliant. You don't want to miss all the action, danger , and excitement!?!?

[Margaret Hejmanowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

JJ (Julia) a former Pan American Games gymnast, moves back home to help out in the family restaurant; Kamaras Grill. Jason, JJ's brother is arrested for the murder of his girlfriend Tara. Everything is not always as it seems. JJ and her friend Rebecca try to find the real killer, since the police believe Jason is the murderer. We have high stakes poker, arson, and exotic fish. Love the plot, great setting, and strong intense interesting characters.

[Jean Roehrs · Rating 4 out of 5]

J J returns home after a long absence, only to have her only brother arrested for murder. The police aren't even looking at anyone else They think it was a lover's quarrel. J J and her best friend set out to discover the truth. They find suspects galore. J J must hold her own in a high-stakes poker game to gather inside information. She also ruffles some nasty feathers. An interesting read with suspense throughout. Jean, ARC Team

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Former world class gymnast JJ is dispirited after a home invasion. So she packs a bag and heads to her family and home town where she picks up her old job in the family Greek restaurant and begins to find old friends when her brother is picked up for murdering his girlfriend. And then things really go pear-shaped. Together with her friends, the sleuthing begins! Good short read.
I won a free e-book copy in a giveaway.
(A JJ Kamaras Cozy Mystery Book 1)

[Charlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Interesting complex and quirky characters and unpredictable turns of events captured me and kept me guessing. Murder and mayhem, joy and sadness, this book has it all! JJ has her hands full! I especially loved the recipes included and intend to try them out! This is a real page turner and a must read!

[L KQ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deliciously Written Mystery

A murder mystery that hits too close to home when JJ returns home. This was a fun and suspenseful story as she sets out to prove the culprit's identity. Fabulously written and great depth of character development.

I received an ARC of this book and voluntarily leave this review.

[Karen L. Hicks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was an ARC reader and given this book free for my honest opinion. I have enjoyed all of Joy Patrick's books and this one does not disappoint. JJ goes back home and has to keep her brother from going to prison after his girlfriend is murdered. Lots of suspects, and JJ has her work cut out for her. Good mystery with great characters.

[Pamela Nash · Rating 5 out of 5]

Feta and Foul Play

This is the first book I read by this author. It was exciting, interesting and keeps you engaged from the beginning to the end. I loved all the characters the author explains the sceneries, so well, you feel like you’re actually on this street in Pennsylvania. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.I

[fred jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great start to this series

An entertaining, well written story. JJ ex gymnastics champion returns back to her families restaurant just in time for her brother to be arrested for murder. A page turning mystery with great characters, good dialogue and strong suspects. Highly recommended. I have already bought the next one.

[Alexia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable Cozy Mystery

Coming from a Greek family and loving cozy mysteries, this was right up my alley. Great characters, interesting mystery, and for once, the love interest wasn't the local sheriff. If you enjoy a good cozy mystery with a fun group of characters don't miss out on this book.

[Larry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this first book of a third series from the same author. Not as much as the first two books, but enjoyed nonetheless. The characters grew endearing quickly, the plot is easily followed, and the premise is finding out who killed the main character's brother's girlfriend and why. Lots of other things happened to keep the story going, so I have no problem recommending this book as well.