Murder and Tacos

Taco Truck Mysteries #1

by Dennis Shock

Book 1 of the Taco Truck Murder Series.
A Deliciously Cozy Culinary Mystery
Zoey sells tacos next to a bookstore that doubles as a bar, but her quiet life in the one-stoplight town is turned upside down when a dead body is discovered near her taco truck. When Zoey and her friends emerge as the leading suspects in the investigation, she knows she has to do something. She has too many secrets in her past to let the investigation continue.
Before long, Zoey finds herself entangled in the mystery of the small-town murder. She learns that nothing is as it seems and that everyone has secrets they’d rather leave in the past. Will Zoey’s former life catch up to her before she can find the real killer, or will she be forced to run from the town and her past?

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Cozy Mystery

195 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 27, 2024

Reviews

[Julie Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy this book. This was like a breath of fresh air, with all the cozy mysteries out there It was nice to have a totally different plot idea. I can't go into to much detail without giving it away but I liked how the author wrote it into the story, as although obvious it kept you guessing what was going on. The mystery again was obvious and I had guessed the right killer and motive from the clues it still played out nicely and was a good listen. I liked the characters and the secrecy surrounding the main character and the mystery man. I think the unusual plot idea lends itself to plenty of possibilities for the author to write a just read series, I for one am looking forward to the next book.
Zoey's taco truck has found the perfect place to set up, outside a bookstore bar and even better she has made friends with the owners. That is until a body is found in the garden of one of its frequent customers. The dead man left the town years ago, in the process breaking one of the book store owners heart's. With the police looking more closely at the customers and the last people to have seen the man the body was found in, Zoey sets out to find the killer because she might not be the killer but she doesn't want the police taking a closer look at her. Can she keep her own secret while uncovering others?
I liked the narrator. He gave the characters some interesting sounding voices and while it is unusual for a man to be narrator for a cast of mostly females, he makes it work.
I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntarily left this review

[Ellen McCormick Bull · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn’t really care for this book. It seemed poorly written and seemed to skip around to different scenes/places. I found myself going back to check and see if I missed something several times. The idea was good. I just think it needed to be more fleshed out.

[Kellie Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book. Not great, not bad. I like the taco recipe at the end. I will definitely be making lol

I think it could have been condensed into about 4 chapters and had the same effect. The writing was overly descriptive and jumped around a lot. Overall, I enjoyed it.

[Tambi Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zoey Shield's taco truck, Taco the Town, rolls into Bloomville, Ohio, with the additional intention of serving delicious tacos at the annual Bloomville Strawberry Festival. The taco truck finds the perfect spot in front of The Book Bar, a cozy bookstore and bar hybrid owned by Katherine Stash and Eleanor Kimpsky. Although Zoey plans to stay only temporarily, she quickly forms a strong bond with Katherine and Eleanor, and their friendship blossoms. As Zoey's business starts to thrive, the small-town charm of Bloomville begins to feel like home. However, peace is shattered when Hal Boggs, a local resident, is found with blood on his hands and clothes, with a dead body in his yard. This startling discovery sets off a chain of events that threatens to unravel buried secrets.

The murder victim is linked to multiple residents of Bloomville's shadowy past, and as the investigation unfolds, it becomes apparent that everyone has something to hide. Zoey, who lacks an alibi, is thrust into a precarious situation where her own hidden past could come to light. Enter Deputy Forest Deetz, who is determined to uncover the truth behind the murder. Zoey quickly realizes she must solve the mystery herself to protect her secrets from being exposed. As tensions rise, Zoey's determination to clear her name grows, leading her on a path filled with unexpected twists and turns.

"Murder and Tacos" is the first book in The Taco Truck Mysteries series by Dennis Shock, and it offers readers a delightful blend of mystery and culinary delight. The narrative is peppered with hints and clues that urge readers to become amateur detectives alongside Zoey. The author skillfully weaves in tantalizing subplots involving Katherine and Eleanor, enriching the story and adding depth to the cast of characters. The dialogue between characters is sharp and engaging, making it easy to follow the developments and keep track of the various suspects. As Zoey's sleuthing leads to surprising revelations, readers are kept on their toes, eager to piece together the puzzle.

In addition to its gripping storyline, the book cleverly incorporates a culinary element, with taco recipes included at the end as a bonus for readers. This unique touch adds a layer of enjoyment, enticing readers to try their hand at creating the same delicious tacos that have made Zoey's food truck a local favorite. The pacing of the story is brisk yet comfortable, making it an ideal read for cozy mystery enthusiasts. With well-crafted plot twists and a satisfying resolution, "Murder and Tacos" keeps readers entertained from start to finish.

For those seeking a captivating mystery that combines small-town intrigue with delectable food, "Murder and Tacos" is an excellent choice. This charming novel not only provides an intriguing whodunit but also explores themes of friendship, trust, and redemption. Just like the perfect taco, this book has the right balance of mystery and flavor— a must-read that will have cozy mystery lovers begging for seconds! Readers are sure to eagerly dive into the next book, "Murder and the Old Barn."

Book Rating:
Originality: 4.75/5.0
Structure: 4.75/5.0
Pacing: 4.75/5.0
Dialogue: 5.0/5.0
Personal Enjoyment: 4.75/5.0
Cover Design: 4.5/5.0 (Not averaged in the overall rating.)
Overall Rating: 4.8/5.0 (Rating will be rounded up due to platforms not allowing partial ratings.)

[Gloria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder and Tacos
Taco Truck Mysteries, Book 1

By: Dennis Shock
Narrated by: Jeff Moon

A Character Driven Delight! Perfection!

Overall: 5 of 5 stars Performance: 5 of 5 stars Story: 5 of 5 stars
Reviewed: 03-07-25

When Zoey parked Taco the Town … her food truck, in the lot of the Book Bar, she had no idea it would be for an extended stay! She also had no idea she would become so attached to Kate and Ellie, the eccentric owners of the Book Bar, and the some of the other delightfully quirky residents of the quaint northern Ohio town. When Hal Bogs trips over a body one night … and then ends up the accused … Zoey just HAS to sleuth the situation out in “Murder and Tacos”, a truly delicious, character driven, cozy mystery delight! The plot is deeply drawn, beautifully explained, AND features a ne’er-do-well SO well cloaked, I was taken completely by surprise! I was delighted by hints of a possible future love interest for Zoey, AND the interactions of the townsfolk, especially with a certain local crabby apple … who shall remain nameless, (no spoilers here) … though I could plead a case for a long walk off a short pier, but I digress! These characters, ALL of these characters are so vibrantly defined and so throughly HUMAN, they truly resonate as REAL! I felt as if I knew a few of them in life! As far as the story, I love how nothing felt exaggerated or forced … EVERYTHING just flowed and felt authentically real! Then there was the narration! Wow! Every character and every scene came brilliantly and beautifully ALIVE! I could understand every word AND I could SEE the story play out! I truly loved every single moment of “Murder and Tacos”! Hands down, FIVE stunning stars!

[Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zoey has a taco truck that Katherine and Eleanor has let her set up outside of their bookstore bar, The Book Bar. That's right, they sell books and drinks. When one of the bars patrons, Hal, trips over a dead body in his yard he becomes the prime suspect, but Zoey is not too sure. She doesn't think he committed the crime. When the police begin to investigate she is interviewed because she was the last person to see him as he left. She also had some late night customers the the police are interested in talking to. Her curiosity gets the better of her and she begins her own investigation and uncovers past secrets that blow the case right open. But she has her own secret and has to be careful the the police doesn't uncover hers.
Loved the book. Can't wait to see what happens in the next book.

[Tari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zoey was definitely a mysterious character at first and I kept wondering what or who she really was. Then along the way little bits of info came out until at one point, I was pretty excited knowing now just who she was. If I’d read this immediately after the last book in Pacific Northwest Culinary, I would’ve caught on probably right away.

I enjoyed the friends she had in this town. Kate and Ellie were real characters especially in their youth. I could tell by one point that Zoey had pretty extensive knowledge of police procedures and legal things so the reveal was even cooler. Can’t wait to borrow and read the next book!

[Caroline 'relaxing with my rescue dogs' · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is always a pleasure to listen to a book by this combination of narrator and author. It is also just so lovely and absolute pure escapism. Yes you have to suspend belief at times but this works. I am looking forward to hearing more about how the character and her relationship develops (love the dog angle). Yes I guessed who she was in terms of why she was there, but the fun bit was working out why. There were nuggets left for the next book which listening to the preview sounds even better.
(Oh and as always the recipes work)

[Siobhan D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the narration of Jeff Moon, who brings the drama, mystery and great characters to your ears.

Zoey has found the perfect place for her taco truck, she has set up outside the bookstore. All is good business is doing well and she has made friends with the book shop owner. That is until the man who left town years ago turns up dead. The police are looking at the last people to have seen the man. Zoey has her own secrets and to keep the police looking into her, she starts looking for the killer.
A great mystery with twists and secrets.

[Monica Medina · Rating 2 out of 5]

The writing in this book was so mechanical and uninteresting. It has a great premise and what could have been a really interesting twist, which was wasted by the story telling. It read like a manual. "Zoey walks to the door and opens it. There is a man there. she doesn't recognize him." absolutely zero nuance or suspense at all. the writer flat out tells you everything straight forward without any intrigue or guessing. I found this boring and consider it a feat I finished at all. I only gave it 2 stars because the premise has hope. Thank you, next author please.

[John Hinchliffe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another winner in my opinion from the pen of Dennis Shock. It is well written with a great cast of characters, plenty of action and well paced with a number of twists and turns along the way. An interesting plot and I have now found out what Taco's are. LOL! Jeff Moon nails the narration once again. I'm already looking forward to book 2 of which you get a taster at the end of this one. Highly Recommended.

[Jocelyne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first novella in the Taco Truck Mysteries, a cozy mystery series. It's a great start to this new series. I loved to follow Zoey on this entertaining adventure. I liked the mystery, the secrets, and the twists and turns. Jeff Moon did a great job bringing this story to life. Looking forward to listening to Murder and the Old Barn, the next book in the series, to know what happens next.

[fred jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this excellent story. Zoe runs a Taco van, when an acquaintance is arrested for murder she begins an investigation. An excellent cozy mystery with great characters who all have secrets to hide,, well written and plotted. Narration is excellent, easy to listen to. Highly recommended and I already bought book 2. I received a complimentary copy of the audio and am leaving a voluntary honest review.

[Gretchen D. Kraft-Weil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder and Tacos was such a delightful change from the typical cozy mysteries, which generally seem to follow a similar basic plot outline. It was so refreshing to have a different angle. I truly enjoyed this cozy mystery and am excited to read the next book in the series.

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick read, I finished it in one sitting. Good story and ending, interesting characters and a story that moves along well. Could have benefited from an editor to catch mistakes in grammar and punctuation. And at one point, a misused character’s name.

[Mary Matroni · Rating 3 out of 5]

Until you know all the players

There was some suspense and kept you guessing. This was a nice cozy mystery. There’s still a lot to learn, especially why Zoey was in Witsec and what will happen between her and the marshal

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can murder be a light read

I was looking for a murder mystery that wasn't dark and heavy. I wanted something on the lighter side. This book was perfect, nothing too deep. No long trial or long drawn out plot. Interesting characters that you want to get to know.

[Gina ⏃ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Para Pop Sugar Reading Challenge 2025
29. Un libro sobre un food truck

[Mary Seyler-Branford · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great story

A great cozy mystery with interesting characters and a good ending. I will probably read the next one if it’s available.

[Michelle Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

First cozy mystery for me in a while so I was expecting more from the plot and characters, hence the rating. But it's a fun, quick read.

[Christie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story. Zoey was a great character. Loved how she was willing to help find out what happened.

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent mystery kept me guessing. I liked the main character and several of the other characters so I'm looking forward to the next book.

[Kristina W]

Gave it <5 min, hated the narration. Deleted

[Bethani Holdren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute little book! It was a great short read! Neat that I knew about some of the places this was talking about in the story! I am hoping to read a few more of these books!

[Shelly hufford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder and tacos is a fun mystery with ingenious twists. The characters are engaging, and the story keeps you guessing without feeling like a huge lift. An easy, entertaining read for anyone who enjoys a lighthearted mystery.