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A Food Truck Mystery #1
A Murder Most Fowl
A food truck run by twins serves up a clucking good murder in this cozy debut mystery, perfect for fans of Lucy Burdette and Joanne Fluke.
When their late aunt Dolly passes away, twins Beth and Seth Lloyd inherit a chicken themed food truck. Despite the challenges, the siblings rise to the occasion, even going as far as signing up their truck Kluckin’ Good to compete on a top cooking show and ruffle a few feathers for some good publicity. But the competition goes from heated to lethal when a contestant is found dead.
With the elimination competition becoming far too literal, Beth and Seth will need all the help they can get to get out of the frying pan without landing in the fire. Relying on their assistant-turned-friend Rylie for help, they’ll have to follow the bread crumbs to untangle a very twisted case before either one of them is put on the chopping block.
This humorous series debut with a mouthwatering mystery will charm readers and keep them guessing right until the not-so-bitter end.
When their late aunt Dolly passes away, twins Beth and Seth Lloyd inherit a chicken themed food truck. Despite the challenges, the siblings rise to the occasion, even going as far as signing up their truck Kluckin’ Good to compete on a top cooking show and ruffle a few feathers for some good publicity. But the competition goes from heated to lethal when a contestant is found dead.
With the elimination competition becoming far too literal, Beth and Seth will need all the help they can get to get out of the frying pan without landing in the fire. Relying on their assistant-turned-friend Rylie for help, they’ll have to follow the bread crumbs to untangle a very twisted case before either one of them is put on the chopping block.
This humorous series debut with a mouthwatering mystery will charm readers and keep them guessing right until the not-so-bitter end.
336 pages, ebook
Published September 9, 2025
9 people are currently reading
3875 people want to read
About the author
Carmela Dutra
9 books114 followersHailing from the Bay Area of California, Carmela Dutra cherishes her family, rainy days, and making others laugh.
Carmela has always had a deep connection with art and writing, and that love drove her to become an author. After years of working on children’s picture books and being recognized with awards, she transitioned to the adult market with her writing. Crafting cozy comedies filled with emotion and love, she strives to bring a smile to the faces of her readers.
When she’s not writing, Carmela drinks too much coffee and over-cuddles her allergy-inducing cats and dog. Married to her best friend, they are raising two sons who are wild about dinosaurs. She’s a fan of The Big Bang Theory and M*A*SH*, watching them repeatedly. Her dream is to write stories that have an impact, making readers laugh, or even cry, but always making them feel better when they finish.
Carmela has always had a deep connection with art and writing, and that love drove her to become an author. After years of working on children’s picture books and being recognized with awards, she transitioned to the adult market with her writing. Crafting cozy comedies filled with emotion and love, she strives to bring a smile to the faces of her readers.
When she’s not writing, Carmela drinks too much coffee and over-cuddles her allergy-inducing cats and dog. Married to her best friend, they are raising two sons who are wild about dinosaurs. She’s a fan of The Big Bang Theory and M*A*SH*, watching them repeatedly. Her dream is to write stories that have an impact, making readers laugh, or even cry, but always making them feel better when they finish.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
August 30, 2025
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Twins Beth and Seth Lloyd have inherited their Aunt Dolly’s Kluckin’ Good food truck. Their aunt taught them from a very young age the secrets of making the perfect chicken wings. Beth runs the food truck with her assistant Rylie. Seth has been a silent partner until now. All three will need to work together as contestants in The Food Truck Showdown, competing against seven other teams.
When the teams gather for the first elimination meeting, one chef is notably missing. Soon, a scream rings out, and the assistant producer announces, Benji Mayhew, the owner of The Dog House food truck, has been eliminated due to the fact that “he’s dead”. Beth has a contentious history with the man, one that recently landed her in a jail cell, so she knows she will be high on the list of suspects.
The Kluckin’ Good team will have to pull it together and find the killer who struck down the hot dog man, because it certainly wasn’t a chicken!
I love watching The Great Food Truck Race on the Food Network. In fact, I was watching it while reading this book. The crazy challenges and the monetary competitions keep those food truck chefs on their toes. I love that on television, they travel to different states. Due to the murder, the contestants in the story are unable to travel too far, and their home base is not a stellar location, but it works well as a place to set a mystery.
Beth is the older twin born on leap day, while Seth was born on the first. He tries to use the technicality that he is actually 7 years older than her, with more actual birthdays. I really enjoyed their banter. Based on my expertise in having four children, it felt like they were true sibling quarrels, debates, and humorous events. Their friend Rylie is the one who brought the Food Truck Showdown to the twins’ attention. She isn’t much of a cook, but has no problem dressing in a chicken costume to bring in customers and take orders. This group of core characters is joined by a quirky cast of food truck owners and their crews, the food network staff, and the local police. All the characters were introduced well and grew throughout the story.
The murder mystery blends with the food truck competition seamlessly. Neither goes smoothly, though. While trying to keep up with the crazy challenges and sell, sell, sell, Beth, Seth, and Kylie are working hard to clear Beth’s name. Beth and Rylie earned themselves the nicknames of Lucy and Ethel from the police detectives because no matter how many times they were told to stay out of the case, they were always found somewhere they shouldn’t be. They worked hard to follow each clue and twist and turn. Beth makes some keen observations, and Detective Kane sees that her help may be worthwhile. I enjoyed being hot on the trail with Beth and on the edge of my seat when the case came to a head.
A Murder Most Fowl has set this series off to a Kluckin’ Good start! A fun read, with entertaining characters, a ton of humor, and just a touch of romance, it checked all my cozy mystery boxes. Be sure to check out the recipes included in the back of the book. You will be craving chicken wings and mac and cheese poppers.
I am pleased to see that book two, Hot Wings and Homicide, will be released on May 12, 2026. I have saved the date on my calendar. I can’t wait.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
Twins Beth and Seth Lloyd have inherited their Aunt Dolly’s Kluckin’ Good food truck. Their aunt taught them from a very young age the secrets of making the perfect chicken wings. Beth runs the food truck with her assistant Rylie. Seth has been a silent partner until now. All three will need to work together as contestants in The Food Truck Showdown, competing against seven other teams.
When the teams gather for the first elimination meeting, one chef is notably missing. Soon, a scream rings out, and the assistant producer announces, Benji Mayhew, the owner of The Dog House food truck, has been eliminated due to the fact that “he’s dead”. Beth has a contentious history with the man, one that recently landed her in a jail cell, so she knows she will be high on the list of suspects.
The Kluckin’ Good team will have to pull it together and find the killer who struck down the hot dog man, because it certainly wasn’t a chicken!
I love watching The Great Food Truck Race on the Food Network. In fact, I was watching it while reading this book. The crazy challenges and the monetary competitions keep those food truck chefs on their toes. I love that on television, they travel to different states. Due to the murder, the contestants in the story are unable to travel too far, and their home base is not a stellar location, but it works well as a place to set a mystery.
Beth is the older twin born on leap day, while Seth was born on the first. He tries to use the technicality that he is actually 7 years older than her, with more actual birthdays. I really enjoyed their banter. Based on my expertise in having four children, it felt like they were true sibling quarrels, debates, and humorous events. Their friend Rylie is the one who brought the Food Truck Showdown to the twins’ attention. She isn’t much of a cook, but has no problem dressing in a chicken costume to bring in customers and take orders. This group of core characters is joined by a quirky cast of food truck owners and their crews, the food network staff, and the local police. All the characters were introduced well and grew throughout the story.
The murder mystery blends with the food truck competition seamlessly. Neither goes smoothly, though. While trying to keep up with the crazy challenges and sell, sell, sell, Beth, Seth, and Kylie are working hard to clear Beth’s name. Beth and Rylie earned themselves the nicknames of Lucy and Ethel from the police detectives because no matter how many times they were told to stay out of the case, they were always found somewhere they shouldn’t be. They worked hard to follow each clue and twist and turn. Beth makes some keen observations, and Detective Kane sees that her help may be worthwhile. I enjoyed being hot on the trail with Beth and on the edge of my seat when the case came to a head.
A Murder Most Fowl has set this series off to a Kluckin’ Good start! A fun read, with entertaining characters, a ton of humor, and just a touch of romance, it checked all my cozy mystery boxes. Be sure to check out the recipes included in the back of the book. You will be craving chicken wings and mac and cheese poppers.
I am pleased to see that book two, Hot Wings and Homicide, will be released on May 12, 2026. I have saved the date on my calendar. I can’t wait.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
November 3, 2025
This is a Cozy Mystery, and this is the first book in A Food Truck Mystery series. I read this book by listening to the audiobook, and I really enjoyed the audiobook. I loved getting to know the characters in this book, and there was so much going on in this book I did not want to stop reading this book. I loved the drama, mystery, and suspense in this book. This was a fun read, but it also made you try to figure out what was going on. I will be picking up the next book in this series. I received an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion about the book like all my reviews are.
May 22, 2025
#AMurderMostFowl #NetGalley is a perfect first in a new series by Carmela Dutra.
Twins Beth and Seth have inherited their Aunt Dolly's food truck, which features chicken wings, sliders and fries.
When Beth's application to be part of a food truck competition, her brother Seth is against the idea.
The feuding siblings remind me of my own set of fraternal twins, and it made the story so much fun.
Beth is eager to participate in this wild adventure and her best friend Rylie is right there with her.
No one expects the competition to be so cut throat or for the contestants to be threatened or bullied.
Beth can't resist trying to find out what's going on and she finds herself in some odd situations.
This is a refreshing new cozy mystery and I'm looking forward to reading more in this series.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.
Twins Beth and Seth have inherited their Aunt Dolly's food truck, which features chicken wings, sliders and fries.
When Beth's application to be part of a food truck competition, her brother Seth is against the idea.
The feuding siblings remind me of my own set of fraternal twins, and it made the story so much fun.
Beth is eager to participate in this wild adventure and her best friend Rylie is right there with her.
No one expects the competition to be so cut throat or for the contestants to be threatened or bullied.
Beth can't resist trying to find out what's going on and she finds herself in some odd situations.
This is a refreshing new cozy mystery and I'm looking forward to reading more in this series.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.
June 4, 2025
This is a new series by an author new to me. I really found this to be a cute cozy with lots of potential! I liked the setting in a food truck, and I can see where this has lots of opportunities for storylines as it can be moved to different locations and have different set ups like the Food Show competition Beth and company participate in, in our first story. Anyone one who considers themselves a foodie will also be delighted with all the clever food offerings and their equally clever names. Finally, there are some good characters here. I love that, though Beth is our MC, she has inherited her food truck Kluckin' Good with her twin Seth, even though he is a silent partner and only fills in when Beth and her employee and best friend Rylie need help. It is obvious all three have a strong bond and long-term ties, I will say that sometimes the siblings squabbling get a little over the top, distracting. With a food show competition, there is plenty of room for things to go array when there is money and fame at stake. When murder occurs, there are plenty of questions, suspects, and motives to go around. My biggest quibbles with this story is that Beth has some problems with self control, I get that she is a tad quirky, but she is also smart, so sometimes it is it is just too much. Also, as often happens in cozy mysteries, Beth takes way too many chances in trying to figure out what's happening. Overall, this is a fun romp with plenty of action and interesting characters. I will definitely look forward to the next book in the series. Thanks to #Netgally, #CrookedLaneBooks, and the author for the introduction to this series. #MurderMostFowl, #AFoodTruckMystery #CarmelaDutra #bookreview #bookideas #retiredreader
July 21, 2025
This book had me laughing from the very start! The main characters are Beth and Seth, fraternal twins who inherited a chicken food truck from their late aunt Dolly.
Beth has entered them in for the chance to be in. Food Truck Competition on national TV. The twins are accompanied by Beth’s best friend Rylie. The dynamic between the 3 is fun! They argue and bicker but also pull together. The show starts off with one of the other truck owners being murdered, although the network tries to spin it as a heart attack.
The mystery was fun. Good amount of characters, not overwhelming, but enough to leave a reasonable amount of suspects.
I have to say the chicken suit was probably one of the highlights for me. There is something about a chicken suit that makes me laugh every time!
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book.
Beth has entered them in for the chance to be in. Food Truck Competition on national TV. The twins are accompanied by Beth’s best friend Rylie. The dynamic between the 3 is fun! They argue and bicker but also pull together. The show starts off with one of the other truck owners being murdered, although the network tries to spin it as a heart attack.
The mystery was fun. Good amount of characters, not overwhelming, but enough to leave a reasonable amount of suspects.
I have to say the chicken suit was probably one of the highlights for me. There is something about a chicken suit that makes me laugh every time!
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book.
Read
October 10, 2025I have never been a cozy mystery reader but this debut book has changed my mind on this. The book starts strong and the engaging and entertaining writing continues throughout the story. Beth and Seth (twins) inherit a food truck from their late aunt. Beth signs them up for a reality food truck show and then murder and mayhem ensues! Even as the deaths and mysteries pile up there are many humorous moments along the way. As their Kluckin’ Good truck continues in the competition we can also salivate over the great descriptive details of the food. I need to mention that they have a full adult sized chicken suit that causes some hilarity and jokes throughout the book. As Beth and her best friend and coworker Rylie attempt to solve the murders Beth gets herself in some tricky situations. There are great secondary characters and I am definitely hoping to see Officer Pretty Boy and his partner return in following books. Overall I was very impressed and charmed by this debut and look forward to more in the series.
September 6, 2025
Setting: The food truck competition show was the perfect setting for a mystery. Lots of suspects and stories interactions with people. Very unique and refreshing take.
Murder Investigation: I enjoyed putting together clues right along side Beth. The multiple murders and suspicious things happening to all contestants kept it entertaining to read. The referring throw you off multiple times and question everything.
Characters: Great set of characters to introduce a series with. I enjoyed the banter and connections between Beth and her twin, the antics she got into with her bff Rylie and the push/pull of Deputy Fancy Pants. 😂 Now don’t get me wrong, I liked Beth but she also drove me nuts. Very naive and lacked common sense. That also helped play to her humor though.
Overall I really enjoyed this book. It’s a refreshing take on the cozy genre and I’m here for more modern settings and mysteries like this.
Read this paired with watching The Great Foodtruck Race
Murder Investigation: I enjoyed putting together clues right along side Beth. The multiple murders and suspicious things happening to all contestants kept it entertaining to read. The referring throw you off multiple times and question everything.
Characters: Great set of characters to introduce a series with. I enjoyed the banter and connections between Beth and her twin, the antics she got into with her bff Rylie and the push/pull of Deputy Fancy Pants. 😂 Now don’t get me wrong, I liked Beth but she also drove me nuts. Very naive and lacked common sense. That also helped play to her humor though.
Overall I really enjoyed this book. It’s a refreshing take on the cozy genre and I’m here for more modern settings and mysteries like this.
Read this paired with watching The Great Foodtruck Race
August 16, 2025
Beth was thrilled when her food truck was selected to compete in The Food Truck Showdown, a reality series where mobile chefs battle it out for a $50,000 prize. What could possibly go wrong in the midst of intense competition aside from the rivalry, threats, missing ingredients, and of course, murder?
I knew I was in for a good time the moment Beth called the cop “Officer Pretty Boy.” From there, the story delivers a fun mix of humor and mystery, with a brother-sister relationship that’s both amusing and heartfelt.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I knew I was in for a good time the moment Beth called the cop “Officer Pretty Boy.” From there, the story delivers a fun mix of humor and mystery, with a brother-sister relationship that’s both amusing and heartfelt.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 22, 2025
First, I have to say this book was AMAZING! I loved it so much that I had to read it more than once, since I finished it in one night the first time around. It was an entertaining read, well-written, and the pace was great. From page one, I laughed countless times. I found no plot holes, and could connect with each character. Beth was the one I could relate to the most, being on the short side myself. This book actually made me hungry a couple times for some fried chicken(my favorite) Also, it wasn’t easy to figure out who did it, so I loved that I was kept guessing until the end. Dutra did a great job with this book. I can’t wait to read the next one in this series, and any future books she may write. This is a cozy mystery series you want to read! I definitely recommend it! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book!
A Murder Most Fowl is the first book in the Food Truck Mystery series. It’s about twins, Beth and Seth, who run a food truck called Kluckin’ Good. They sign up to compete on a top cooking show and soon find themselves in a murder investigation. It’s humorous, light-hearted, and a fun read.
A Murder Most Fowl is the first book in the Food Truck Mystery series. It’s about twins, Beth and Seth, who run a food truck called Kluckin’ Good. They sign up to compete on a top cooking show and soon find themselves in a murder investigation. It’s humorous, light-hearted, and a fun read.
May 28, 2025
A murder Most Fowl is about Seth and Beth who are twins and run a food truck left to them by their aunt. They run the food truck with their friend Rylie. Beth decides to enter a food truck competition. After the first challenge one of the other food truck owner's (Benji) is found dead in his food truck. Beth takes it upon herself to find out what happened. Beth continues to keep officer Kane or Officer Pretty Boy as she calls him on his toes through the whole story.
I loved this first book in A Food Truck Mystery and look forward to more to come. I really enjoyed the banter between all the characters. Carmela kept me hooked from the very beginning. It was hard to put this book down because it was so entertaining. If you liked the cozy mysteries by Jana Deleon you will enjoy these books.
Thank you NetGalley and Cooked Lane Books for the ARC copy of A Murder Most Fowl: A Food Truck Mystery. I look forward to more books in this series.
I loved this first book in A Food Truck Mystery and look forward to more to come. I really enjoyed the banter between all the characters. Carmela kept me hooked from the very beginning. It was hard to put this book down because it was so entertaining. If you liked the cozy mysteries by Jana Deleon you will enjoy these books.
Thank you NetGalley and Cooked Lane Books for the ARC copy of A Murder Most Fowl: A Food Truck Mystery. I look forward to more books in this series.
June 12, 2025
This cute cozy mystery features a food truck inherited by fraternal twins. In this series debut the food truck enters a reality show competition. When a body is found, one of the twins is questioned by police and sets out to find the culprit. Humor, murder, intrigue and a tiny hint of romance. The plot was nice and twisty, the characters interesting and believable, and the story was nicely crafted. I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to seeing where the author takes these new characters. I received a complimentary copy of this book and chose to write a voluntary, unbiased review.
June 24, 2025
This first book of a new series avoids the mistakes that you often find with the first book in a new series. Instead of pages devoted to character introduction at the beginning of the story, you jump right into the story, and the characters are developed throughout the story.
This was an engaging and funny book that kept me guessing to the end.
I can't wait to read the next book in the series!
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book.
This was an engaging and funny book that kept me guessing to the end.
I can't wait to read the next book in the series!
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book.
August 16, 2025
I was so excited to read this one so thank you for the early copy!
Carmela Dutra’s debut in the cozy mystery realm serves up a delectable blend of culinary charm, sharp humor, and light-hearted sleuthing. When twins Beth and Seth Lloyd inherit their late Aunt Dolly’s chicken-themed food truck, Kluckin’ Good, they launch into a spicy adventure filled with sizzle and suspense.
Their marketing gambit—entering the competitive TV cooking show The Food Truck Showdown—quickly fries their plans when one of the rival contestants turns up dead. Suddenly, what was a quest for publicity becomes a hunt for truth, and the Lloyd twins, aided by their trusty assistant and chicken-costume champion Rylie, are left navigating a banquet of clues, sabotage, and suspicion.
If you love cozy and quirky, this is for you! This book delivers plenty of comic relief with quirky characters, pun-laden setups, and embarrassing missteps. It had me giggling!
The dynamic between the pragmatic Seth, the enthusiastic Beth, and the irrepressible Rylie enriches the story’s charm. Their teamwork feels authentic and fun as does their banter.
The investigation strikes a nice balance that will keep you guessing and on your toes. Between sabotaged ingredients, cryptic notes, and a glitchy video system, the twins must improvise…literally “cooking up” solutions. No one fries up clues like Beth!
A Murder Most Fowl is a delightful romp down a road of fried chicken, friendly rivalry, and feather-flying mystery. With endearing characters, lighthearted humor, and just enough mystery to keep you guessing, it’s perfect for reading with a snack in hand or perhaps something poultry-themed (there are recipes at the end). If you’re a fan of slice-of-life cozies with deliciously clever plots, this one’s a must!
Carmela Dutra’s debut in the cozy mystery realm serves up a delectable blend of culinary charm, sharp humor, and light-hearted sleuthing. When twins Beth and Seth Lloyd inherit their late Aunt Dolly’s chicken-themed food truck, Kluckin’ Good, they launch into a spicy adventure filled with sizzle and suspense.
Their marketing gambit—entering the competitive TV cooking show The Food Truck Showdown—quickly fries their plans when one of the rival contestants turns up dead. Suddenly, what was a quest for publicity becomes a hunt for truth, and the Lloyd twins, aided by their trusty assistant and chicken-costume champion Rylie, are left navigating a banquet of clues, sabotage, and suspicion.
If you love cozy and quirky, this is for you! This book delivers plenty of comic relief with quirky characters, pun-laden setups, and embarrassing missteps. It had me giggling!
The dynamic between the pragmatic Seth, the enthusiastic Beth, and the irrepressible Rylie enriches the story’s charm. Their teamwork feels authentic and fun as does their banter.
The investigation strikes a nice balance that will keep you guessing and on your toes. Between sabotaged ingredients, cryptic notes, and a glitchy video system, the twins must improvise…literally “cooking up” solutions. No one fries up clues like Beth!
A Murder Most Fowl is a delightful romp down a road of fried chicken, friendly rivalry, and feather-flying mystery. With endearing characters, lighthearted humor, and just enough mystery to keep you guessing, it’s perfect for reading with a snack in hand or perhaps something poultry-themed (there are recipes at the end). If you’re a fan of slice-of-life cozies with deliciously clever plots, this one’s a must!
September 19, 2025
4.5 stars.
When their late aunt Dolly passes away, twins Beth and Seth Lloyd inherit a chicken themed food truck. Despite the challenges, the siblings rise to the occasion, even going as far as signing up their truck Kluckin’ Good to compete on a top cooking show for some good publicity. But the competition goes from heated to lethal when a contestant is found dead. With their loyal assistant–and Beth’s best friend–Rylie by their side, they’ll have to follow the bread crumbs to untangle a very twisted case.
This was a solid debut! I had more fun than I’d expected. The premise itself was enough to grab my attention - funny cosy mystery involving food trucks and reality TV show? Yes, please!
Gosh, I laughed out loud many times reading this. Beth reminded me of an early Steph Plum - daring, street-smart and impulsive. She jumped into situations head first (sometimes in a chicken suit, literally), without really thinking of the repercussions. I loved her sidekick Riley and her brother Seth. Beth and Seth (yes Riley, their names are really similar!) had the most natural sibling quarrels and I loved their dynamics.
The murder mystery itself was layered and fun. It took me on a journey, and I couldn’t guess the whodunnit. The inclusions of pop references (even Liam Neeson made an appearance!) were so good. And the cherry on top? The book included Kluckin’ Good recipes!
I’m so ready for the next book, Carmela!
(Thanks to the author, NetGalley and Crooked Lane for a gifted review copy)
See my bookstagram review.
When their late aunt Dolly passes away, twins Beth and Seth Lloyd inherit a chicken themed food truck. Despite the challenges, the siblings rise to the occasion, even going as far as signing up their truck Kluckin’ Good to compete on a top cooking show for some good publicity. But the competition goes from heated to lethal when a contestant is found dead. With their loyal assistant–and Beth’s best friend–Rylie by their side, they’ll have to follow the bread crumbs to untangle a very twisted case.
This was a solid debut! I had more fun than I’d expected. The premise itself was enough to grab my attention - funny cosy mystery involving food trucks and reality TV show? Yes, please!
Gosh, I laughed out loud many times reading this. Beth reminded me of an early Steph Plum - daring, street-smart and impulsive. She jumped into situations head first (sometimes in a chicken suit, literally), without really thinking of the repercussions. I loved her sidekick Riley and her brother Seth. Beth and Seth (yes Riley, their names are really similar!) had the most natural sibling quarrels and I loved their dynamics.
The murder mystery itself was layered and fun. It took me on a journey, and I couldn’t guess the whodunnit. The inclusions of pop references (even Liam Neeson made an appearance!) were so good. And the cherry on top? The book included Kluckin’ Good recipes!
I’m so ready for the next book, Carmela!
(Thanks to the author, NetGalley and Crooked Lane for a gifted review copy)
See my bookstagram review.
September 9, 2025
This was such a fun mystery read! I loved the food truck competition tv show setting and all of the elements that go into that. All of the different foods that were mentioned had my mouth watering. I always love watching shows like the one portrayed in this story, so that was fun to read about for sure.
This story is about Beth who co-owns a chicken themed food truck with her twin brother Seth. Beth’s best friend works with them and helps out too. Upon entering a food truck competition things start to go wrong and get even worse when a contestant winds up dead.
All of the characters were interesting and I loved how we had twins as two of the primary characters. The sibling banter was really entertaining and believable. I also liked Beth’s personality, she was quite quirky and chaotic which made for an amusing combo.
Read this if you like:
🐓 Twin main characters
🐔 Whodunnit
🐓 Amateur sleuthing
🐔 Food truck setting
This is a super fun, cozy read that mystery lovers will enjoy.
Thank you to the author for a gifted copy of the book.
This story is about Beth who co-owns a chicken themed food truck with her twin brother Seth. Beth’s best friend works with them and helps out too. Upon entering a food truck competition things start to go wrong and get even worse when a contestant winds up dead.
All of the characters were interesting and I loved how we had twins as two of the primary characters. The sibling banter was really entertaining and believable. I also liked Beth’s personality, she was quite quirky and chaotic which made for an amusing combo.
Read this if you like:
🐓 Twin main characters
🐔 Whodunnit
🐓 Amateur sleuthing
🐔 Food truck setting
This is a super fun, cozy read that mystery lovers will enjoy.
Thank you to the author for a gifted copy of the book.
October 7, 2025
I give it a solid 3.5 stars. The series has promise.
Read
December 17, 2025A little too light and silly for me. DNF
September 10, 2025
Twins Beth and Seth inherit a food truck from their aunt and sign up for a food truck competition hosted by a well-known cooking show. A contestant that Beth previously had a very public argument with is found dead, so of course she is the primary suspect. The siblings and their friend Rylie set out to find the real culprit before someone else dies.
This book is billed as humor, but I found most of it just plain silly. The twins’ names – Beth and Seth – made me roll my eyes every time I saw them on the page, and their relationship often seemed like they were still in high school. The other food truck owners were so badly stereotyped, it was painful to read.
While there were plenty of suspects in the other contestants, Beth and co.’s investigation seemed to consist of “Let’s think of reasons why this person did it. Oooh, good reason, let’s go accuse them to their face!” The local police were way too tolerant of these rank amateurs, and we’re supposed to believe it’s because one of them was falling for Beth (insert eyeroll here). The actual culprit was on my radar relatively early in the story, and the takedown scene was both exciting and satisfying.
It appears that this is intended to be the first book of a new series. If that proves to be true, it is unlikely that I will read the next book – unless I forget how much this one got on my nerves.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
This book is billed as humor, but I found most of it just plain silly. The twins’ names – Beth and Seth – made me roll my eyes every time I saw them on the page, and their relationship often seemed like they were still in high school. The other food truck owners were so badly stereotyped, it was painful to read.
While there were plenty of suspects in the other contestants, Beth and co.’s investigation seemed to consist of “Let’s think of reasons why this person did it. Oooh, good reason, let’s go accuse them to their face!” The local police were way too tolerant of these rank amateurs, and we’re supposed to believe it’s because one of them was falling for Beth (insert eyeroll here). The actual culprit was on my radar relatively early in the story, and the takedown scene was both exciting and satisfying.
It appears that this is intended to be the first book of a new series. If that proves to be true, it is unlikely that I will read the next book – unless I forget how much this one got on my nerves.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
July 30, 2025
"A Murder Most Fowl: A Food Truck Mystery" by Carmela Dutra is a food truck themed cozy mystery. It's a standalone story, so far. It wrapped up like a standalone but I could also see this book leading into a whole new cozy mystery series. Beth Lloyd co-owns a chicken themed food truck with her twin brother Seth. Her best friend works for them, usually dressed in a chicken costume.
The story starts out with Beth being picked up from the local police station. She was brought in for fluffing her feathers (literally, she was wearing the chicken costume) at another food truck owner. Things don't get much better when that same foe is also in the food truck competition tv show as them. When Beth gets investigated for the mysterious death of the other guy she feels she has to do something to prove her innocence.
The story starts out with Beth being picked up from the local police station. She was brought in for fluffing her feathers (literally, she was wearing the chicken costume) at another food truck owner. Things don't get much better when that same foe is also in the food truck competition tv show as them. When Beth gets investigated for the mysterious death of the other guy she feels she has to do something to prove her innocence.
November 7, 2025
Okay, the main character was effing annoying, but everything else about this book made up for her.
September 24, 2025
Twins Beth and Seth Lloyd have inherited a chicken themed food truck. Beth plans on running it while her lawyer brother helps out. When Beth and friend/assistant Rylie sign up their truck, Kluckin’ Good, to compete on a top cooking reality show Seth reluctantly joins. Then they all get more than they bargained for when a hated rival is found dead.
I loved the reality show component. It's like that Great Food Truck race show on Food Network. It felt like being inside the episodes. The foods they cooked sounded delicious.
There is a lot of banter between the main characters. Beth talks a lot and she's not afraid to investigate. Of course that gets her into trouble. There are suspicious things and situations going on to keep you guessing. I suspected the killer but not the why. Reality show fans will appreciate A Murder Most Fowl.
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books for the ARC #partner All opinions are my own.
I loved the reality show component. It's like that Great Food Truck race show on Food Network. It felt like being inside the episodes. The foods they cooked sounded delicious.
There is a lot of banter between the main characters. Beth talks a lot and she's not afraid to investigate. Of course that gets her into trouble. There are suspicious things and situations going on to keep you guessing. I suspected the killer but not the why. Reality show fans will appreciate A Murder Most Fowl.
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books for the ARC #partner All opinions are my own.
July 2, 2025
Fraternal twins Beth and Seth inherited their Aunt Dolly's food truck and have now entered it into the newest Food Channel competition, despite Seth's reservations. Seth and Beth dont always see eye to eye despite being twins and Beth is looking forward to the competition and brings her best friend Rylie along to help out and to wear the chicken mascot costume that the truck is known for. Soon after the competition begins, it becomes clear that it's more cutthroat than anyone anticipated as some of the contestants start to get bullied and threatened and even turn up dead. Beth can't help but look into all this herself after the police find her to be the last person to speak to the dead body so she wants to not only clear her name but find out who's really behind it all.
Cute and easy breezy cozy mystery that I was able to read in one sitting. Lots of food references as one would expect and a behind the scenes look at cooking competition/food networks.
Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review
Cute and easy breezy cozy mystery that I was able to read in one sitting. Lots of food references as one would expect and a behind the scenes look at cooking competition/food networks.
Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review
September 9, 2025
Today’s the day A Murder Most Fowl struts its chaotic little drumsticks onto shelves, and if your preorder didn’t include emotional support snacks, that’s on you. We’ve got poultry puns, sabotage by spatula, and one hot cop who probably deserves hazard pay for dealing with Beth. This book opens with a food truck feud and a chicken costume arrest before anyone’s even dead. I knew immediately: this was my clown car of crime, and I was never getting out.
Beth Lloyd gets arrested in a chicken costume before the murder even happens. That’s how this book starts. I read that opening and immediately screamed, “Oh this is my kind of unhinged.” Welcome to A Murder Most Fowl, where the puns are poultry-themed, the stakes are cooked medium rare, and the vibes are so cozy-chaotic you’ll want to wrap yourself in a fryer basket and call it a blanket.
So. Beth and her twin brother Seth (yes, their names rhyme and yes, they fight like kids hopped up on Capri Sun) inherit their Aunt Dolly’s beloved fried chicken food truck, Kluckin’ Good. It’s a fully committed aesthetic situation, chicken costumes, pun-based menu, and one very traumatized assistant named Rylie who’s out here doing chicken-based drag on the streets of the Bay Area. Rylie’s a delight, by the way. She can’t cook worth a damn but she’s ride-or-die, and honestly we need more chicken-suit-wearing best friends willing to tamper with crime scenes out of loyalty.
Beth, possibly manic, definitely bold, signs them up for The Food Truck Showdown, which is like Top Chef meets Survivor if one of the immunity challenges was “don’t get murdered.” Obviously, someone does. Enter Benji Mayhew, a hot dog vendor with the emotional range of a slap fight and Beth’s mortal enemy. He winds up very, very dead, and unfortunately for our girl Beth, she recently got arrested for going full Looney Tunes on him in public. With feathers. Allegedly.
Now, she’s suspect number one in a case that’s messier than an undercooked brisket. But does she back off? Oh no. She becomes Lucy Ricardo with a vengeance, dragging poor Rylie into full-on amateur sleuth mode while Seth mutters insults and tries not to combust from secondhand embarrassment. The murder mystery is juicy, but the real meal here is the characters. These siblings bicker like it’s an Olympic sport, and their banter feels like actual sibling chaos, not cutesy, not forced, just decades of shared trauma wrapped in sarcasm and fried food.
Beth calls the hot cop “Officer Pretty Boy” to his face, and that might be the moment I sold my soul to this series. Detective Kane clearly wants to arrest her for obstruction and also maybe for flirting. Their chemistry is aggressively cozy-mystery coded and I am here for it.
The mystery itself? Solid. Just twisty enough to keep you guessing without getting lost in the sauce. Suspects fly in faster than orders at a lunch rush, and every single food truck team is a walking red flag in an apron. The sabotage, the spicy secrets, the fact that one contestant may or may not be poisoning their competition. It’s camp, it’s clever, it’s chicken-fried chaos and I ate it all up like it came with a side of ranch.
Are there some over-the-top moments? Absolutely. Do I care? Absolutely not. That’s the whole point. This is “cozy with consequences,” where the cast is charmingly unqualified for the danger they’re in, but they still show up, take notes, and wear the chicken suit like it’s armor.
Four stars for a debut that dives headfirst into its weird little world, then deep-fries it in humor, heart, and just a pinch of murder. You better believe I’m coming back for Hot Wings and Homicide or whatever the next round of chaos is called. If this is just book one, book two better arrive with a fire extinguisher and emotional support waffles.
Whodunity Award: For Turning a Food Truck Rodeo into a Suspicion Buffet With a Side of Murder Sauce
Big thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the ARC. Y’all really said, “Here’s a murder and a chicken suit, do with that what you will.” And I did. I devoured it like mac and cheese poppers at a crime scene.
Beth Lloyd gets arrested in a chicken costume before the murder even happens. That’s how this book starts. I read that opening and immediately screamed, “Oh this is my kind of unhinged.” Welcome to A Murder Most Fowl, where the puns are poultry-themed, the stakes are cooked medium rare, and the vibes are so cozy-chaotic you’ll want to wrap yourself in a fryer basket and call it a blanket.
So. Beth and her twin brother Seth (yes, their names rhyme and yes, they fight like kids hopped up on Capri Sun) inherit their Aunt Dolly’s beloved fried chicken food truck, Kluckin’ Good. It’s a fully committed aesthetic situation, chicken costumes, pun-based menu, and one very traumatized assistant named Rylie who’s out here doing chicken-based drag on the streets of the Bay Area. Rylie’s a delight, by the way. She can’t cook worth a damn but she’s ride-or-die, and honestly we need more chicken-suit-wearing best friends willing to tamper with crime scenes out of loyalty.
Beth, possibly manic, definitely bold, signs them up for The Food Truck Showdown, which is like Top Chef meets Survivor if one of the immunity challenges was “don’t get murdered.” Obviously, someone does. Enter Benji Mayhew, a hot dog vendor with the emotional range of a slap fight and Beth’s mortal enemy. He winds up very, very dead, and unfortunately for our girl Beth, she recently got arrested for going full Looney Tunes on him in public. With feathers. Allegedly.
Now, she’s suspect number one in a case that’s messier than an undercooked brisket. But does she back off? Oh no. She becomes Lucy Ricardo with a vengeance, dragging poor Rylie into full-on amateur sleuth mode while Seth mutters insults and tries not to combust from secondhand embarrassment. The murder mystery is juicy, but the real meal here is the characters. These siblings bicker like it’s an Olympic sport, and their banter feels like actual sibling chaos, not cutesy, not forced, just decades of shared trauma wrapped in sarcasm and fried food.
Beth calls the hot cop “Officer Pretty Boy” to his face, and that might be the moment I sold my soul to this series. Detective Kane clearly wants to arrest her for obstruction and also maybe for flirting. Their chemistry is aggressively cozy-mystery coded and I am here for it.
The mystery itself? Solid. Just twisty enough to keep you guessing without getting lost in the sauce. Suspects fly in faster than orders at a lunch rush, and every single food truck team is a walking red flag in an apron. The sabotage, the spicy secrets, the fact that one contestant may or may not be poisoning their competition. It’s camp, it’s clever, it’s chicken-fried chaos and I ate it all up like it came with a side of ranch.
Are there some over-the-top moments? Absolutely. Do I care? Absolutely not. That’s the whole point. This is “cozy with consequences,” where the cast is charmingly unqualified for the danger they’re in, but they still show up, take notes, and wear the chicken suit like it’s armor.
Four stars for a debut that dives headfirst into its weird little world, then deep-fries it in humor, heart, and just a pinch of murder. You better believe I’m coming back for Hot Wings and Homicide or whatever the next round of chaos is called. If this is just book one, book two better arrive with a fire extinguisher and emotional support waffles.
Whodunity Award: For Turning a Food Truck Rodeo into a Suspicion Buffet With a Side of Murder Sauce
Big thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the ARC. Y’all really said, “Here’s a murder and a chicken suit, do with that what you will.” And I did. I devoured it like mac and cheese poppers at a crime scene.
August 28, 2025
“I get arrested one time as a giant chicken and you never let me live it down.”
A Murder Most Fowl is such a fun debut! I instantly fell in love with the witty writing voice as well as the hilarious (and heartwarming) combination of Beth Lloyd, her twin brother Seth, and their friend Rylie. The snappy banter between these three kept me chuckling, and I basically read the whole book with a smile on my face. Frankly, Beth is a hoot all on her own – the endearing sort of hot mess that you can’t help but love – but the story wouldn’t have been nearly as charming without Seth and Rylie to balance her out (or, more often in Rylie’s case, add to the chaos). Adding the swoony Detective Kane to this recipe was the cherry on top for me, and I loved all the delicious sparks between him and Beth. Can’t wait to see if a romance is eventually on the menu for them! (In fact, I’ll be very sad if it isn’t.)
The mystery in A Murder Most Fowl combines several different elements that kept my mind whirring with possible culprits. Sabotage, threatening notes, murder – those are just the most obvious. As Beth and Rylie investigate (to Seth’s absolute distress and Detective Kane’s frustration-laced-with-admiration), they uncover a tangle of intriguing layers that must be sorted between what’s just made-for-reality-TV drama, what’s related to the murders, and where the two categories intersect (if they do). In hindsight, maybe I should have figured it all out much sooner, but I love that I absolutely did not know for sure who was behind the murders until the moment it was supposed to click. And, by the way, the food truck competition show was a great plot device to kick off this series because it let us get a taste of Kluckin’ Good’s wares in a way that fit the story, rather than feeling like an info dump.
Bottom Line: A Murder Most Fowl by Carmela Dutra serves up a cleverly-plotted whodunit that I really enjoyed. This entertaining debut begins with a sleuth in a chicken suit, and honestly the cozy mystery world didn’t know how badly we needed one of those until now. Fold in the lively banter between Beth, Seth, and Rylie until the dialogue is light, snappy, and impossible to resist (one of my fave things about this book). Add the food truck TV competition, stirring well to blend the quirky characters with reality-show tension until it simmers over into murder. Sprinkle in just enough twists and turns to keep your inner Nancy Drew guessing. Serve warm, with a side of laughter and drama, along with a dash of romance potential for that added zing. A fun and flavorful start to a delicious new series that will leave readers hungry for the next installment!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower
A Murder Most Fowl is such a fun debut! I instantly fell in love with the witty writing voice as well as the hilarious (and heartwarming) combination of Beth Lloyd, her twin brother Seth, and their friend Rylie. The snappy banter between these three kept me chuckling, and I basically read the whole book with a smile on my face. Frankly, Beth is a hoot all on her own – the endearing sort of hot mess that you can’t help but love – but the story wouldn’t have been nearly as charming without Seth and Rylie to balance her out (or, more often in Rylie’s case, add to the chaos). Adding the swoony Detective Kane to this recipe was the cherry on top for me, and I loved all the delicious sparks between him and Beth. Can’t wait to see if a romance is eventually on the menu for them! (In fact, I’ll be very sad if it isn’t.)
The mystery in A Murder Most Fowl combines several different elements that kept my mind whirring with possible culprits. Sabotage, threatening notes, murder – those are just the most obvious. As Beth and Rylie investigate (to Seth’s absolute distress and Detective Kane’s frustration-laced-with-admiration), they uncover a tangle of intriguing layers that must be sorted between what’s just made-for-reality-TV drama, what’s related to the murders, and where the two categories intersect (if they do). In hindsight, maybe I should have figured it all out much sooner, but I love that I absolutely did not know for sure who was behind the murders until the moment it was supposed to click. And, by the way, the food truck competition show was a great plot device to kick off this series because it let us get a taste of Kluckin’ Good’s wares in a way that fit the story, rather than feeling like an info dump.
Bottom Line: A Murder Most Fowl by Carmela Dutra serves up a cleverly-plotted whodunit that I really enjoyed. This entertaining debut begins with a sleuth in a chicken suit, and honestly the cozy mystery world didn’t know how badly we needed one of those until now. Fold in the lively banter between Beth, Seth, and Rylie until the dialogue is light, snappy, and impossible to resist (one of my fave things about this book). Add the food truck TV competition, stirring well to blend the quirky characters with reality-show tension until it simmers over into murder. Sprinkle in just enough twists and turns to keep your inner Nancy Drew guessing. Serve warm, with a side of laughter and drama, along with a dash of romance potential for that added zing. A fun and flavorful start to a delicious new series that will leave readers hungry for the next installment!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower
September 29, 2025
What a great start to a new cozy series. Carmela Dutra should be strutting like rooster after writing such a clever cozy mystery based on a family food truck business. I was instantly hooked because I love a good culinary cozy with a slightly snarky, slightly silly sleuth. Beth (Bethany) Lloyd starts out this adventure by getting arrested, in a chicken costume, for assaulting another food truck owner's truck. I know that I am going to like her right away because she introduces herself to the reader and states that nothing she does is subtle. The snark shows up right away as illustrated by her nickname for the arresting officer, Officer Pretty Boy. Yep, that comes back to peck her in the face when it turns out that he is really Detective "Pretty Boy" Kane.
Beth isn't alone in this adventure though, she has her BFF (best female friend) Rylie Cortes, and her womb-mate/twin brother and lawyer-to-be, Seth. And what an adventure it is going to be since their food truck, Kluckin' Good, has been selected for the reality food show/contest The Food Truck Showdown and a chance to win $50,000 not to mention the fantastic publicity just from being a part of the show. Unfortunately, a local rival and nemesis, Benji Mayhews, owner of The Dog House food truck is a contestant as well. So, of course, Benji is a victim, and Beth is a suspect who is questioned not once but twice by Detective Pretty Boy. Their playful banter is highly entertaining, and almost as good as the twins back and forth about who is older.
The easygoing light-heartedness is perfect to counterbalance the over-the-top reality TV drama and keeps the reader entertained and interested. The contestants, all unique, and all offering some great food, are all suspects, even though they have received threatening serial killer like magazine cutout messages. What cozy sleuth can ignore a food related threatening message created out of magazine bits? Beth and Rylie are true crime fans, so of course Beth intends to use all her knowledge to get to the bottom of the strange goings on. There are plenty of clues to be followed and scenarios to be sorted out. Interestingly enough, Detective Kane is happy to listen to Beth’s theories and does his best to warn her to stay out of his investigation. I am looking forward to seeing how that relationship progresses as the series continues.
I found this story to be as appetizing and as original as the menu items and daily specials that are described in great detail. Speaking of food, there are two recipes, The Kluckin' Greek wings and Mac and Cheese Poppers included at the conclusion of the story that I cannot wait to make and enjoy.
Beth isn't alone in this adventure though, she has her BFF (best female friend) Rylie Cortes, and her womb-mate/twin brother and lawyer-to-be, Seth. And what an adventure it is going to be since their food truck, Kluckin' Good, has been selected for the reality food show/contest The Food Truck Showdown and a chance to win $50,000 not to mention the fantastic publicity just from being a part of the show. Unfortunately, a local rival and nemesis, Benji Mayhews, owner of The Dog House food truck is a contestant as well. So, of course, Benji is a victim, and Beth is a suspect who is questioned not once but twice by Detective Pretty Boy. Their playful banter is highly entertaining, and almost as good as the twins back and forth about who is older.
The easygoing light-heartedness is perfect to counterbalance the over-the-top reality TV drama and keeps the reader entertained and interested. The contestants, all unique, and all offering some great food, are all suspects, even though they have received threatening serial killer like magazine cutout messages. What cozy sleuth can ignore a food related threatening message created out of magazine bits? Beth and Rylie are true crime fans, so of course Beth intends to use all her knowledge to get to the bottom of the strange goings on. There are plenty of clues to be followed and scenarios to be sorted out. Interestingly enough, Detective Kane is happy to listen to Beth’s theories and does his best to warn her to stay out of his investigation. I am looking forward to seeing how that relationship progresses as the series continues.
I found this story to be as appetizing and as original as the menu items and daily specials that are described in great detail. Speaking of food, there are two recipes, The Kluckin' Greek wings and Mac and Cheese Poppers included at the conclusion of the story that I cannot wait to make and enjoy.
August 25, 2025
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
A Murder Most Fowl by Carmela Dutra brings twins Beth and Seth into a mystery that Beth has to solve.
Can Beth clear her name and win the food truck competition?
Bethany "Beth" Lloyd
Beth is the oldest twin of her and Seth, and they are co-owners of their late aunt Dolly's chicken food truck called Kluckin' Good. She, along with her best friend, Rylie, is an avid listener to a true crime podcast. So, when the opportunity to clear her own name and solve a mystery came knocking on her food truck door, Beth just had to take it. I like Beth and how she kept quoting her favorite true crime podcast whenever she would do something to solve the mystery.
Another thing I like is her budding romance with the lead detective. Also, the relationship with her twin brother is fun. I enjoyed their banter and bickering antics. Also, the whole food truck contest was exciting, like a Food Network competition.
The Mystery
Beth ends up discovering the body of the other contestant on the food truck competition show that they were on. She decided to start investigating to clear her name and serve some good food. As Beth digs deeper, more clues emerge, including additional notes around the set and missing ingredients, which suggest sabotage. I had a feeling that I knew who it was after a while, and I was glad to see that I was right. The part that I got wrong was the why. I was so off on that one.
Five Stars
My rating for A Murder Most Fowl by Carmela Dutra is five stars. I am also recommending this author since this is her first book and series, and I loved it a lot. It was nice to revisit California, even if it was through a book. Ms. Dutra is an excellent author, and I can't wait to see what mystery pops up next for Beth, Seth, and Rylie to investigate.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of A Murder Most Fowl by Carmela Dutra.
Happy Reading!This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove
A Murder Most Fowl by Carmela Dutra brings twins Beth and Seth into a mystery that Beth has to solve.
Can Beth clear her name and win the food truck competition?
Bethany "Beth" Lloyd
Beth is the oldest twin of her and Seth, and they are co-owners of their late aunt Dolly's chicken food truck called Kluckin' Good. She, along with her best friend, Rylie, is an avid listener to a true crime podcast. So, when the opportunity to clear her own name and solve a mystery came knocking on her food truck door, Beth just had to take it. I like Beth and how she kept quoting her favorite true crime podcast whenever she would do something to solve the mystery.
Another thing I like is her budding romance with the lead detective. Also, the relationship with her twin brother is fun. I enjoyed their banter and bickering antics. Also, the whole food truck contest was exciting, like a Food Network competition.
The Mystery
Beth ends up discovering the body of the other contestant on the food truck competition show that they were on. She decided to start investigating to clear her name and serve some good food. As Beth digs deeper, more clues emerge, including additional notes around the set and missing ingredients, which suggest sabotage. I had a feeling that I knew who it was after a while, and I was glad to see that I was right. The part that I got wrong was the why. I was so off on that one.
Five Stars
My rating for A Murder Most Fowl by Carmela Dutra is five stars. I am also recommending this author since this is her first book and series, and I loved it a lot. It was nice to revisit California, even if it was through a book. Ms. Dutra is an excellent author, and I can't wait to see what mystery pops up next for Beth, Seth, and Rylie to investigate.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of A Murder Most Fowl by Carmela Dutra.
Happy Reading!This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove
September 8, 2025
A MURDER MOST FOWL by Carmela Dutra
The First Food Truck Mystery
While Aunt Dolly left her food truck to twins Beth and Seth Lloyd, with Seth preparing for the bar exam and a career as a lawyer it's up to Beth and her best friend Rylie to work the truck. That is until Kluckin' Good becomes a contestant on the reality series The Food Truck Showdown, then it's all hands on deck. The first challenge is not without its drama with missing ingredients and threatening notes. But the biggest surprise is the death of contestant Benji, owner of The Dog House and Beth's nemesis. Though the producers are saying he died of a heart attack, Beth isn't so sure. Why would the police be questioning everyone if he died of natural causes? Even though she disliked the man, Beth wants justice seen, so following the true crime podcasts she listens to she and Rylie will sniff out clues and try to catch a killer even as they continue to compete in the culinary competition.
Beth Lloyd is a trip! A bit childish, but supremely competent, she's a fantastic friend, a good sister, and no dummy! I appreciate Seth's overprotectiveness and his ability to work the food truck, though perhaps not drive it. I also think it's great that Rylie speaks Portuguese rather than Spanish! The relationships between the relationships between this trio was fun. Detective Pretty Boy and his partner also made me smile more than once!
My biggest dislike was that the book was written in present tense. Generally I can only read a paragraph or two before tossing a book written in present tense away. It just sounds wrong to me. However, I stuck with the first Food Truck Mystery as I was enjoying the situations and the characters. There were enough sections not in present tense (dialogue for example) that even though I cringed every time I read that tense, I was able to continue. I only wish future books would change tense!
I like how A MURDER MOST FOWL touched on the realities of reality TV and I enjoyed the mystery itself. Benji, with his confrontational and misogynistic attitude, was a perfect victim and I enjoyed how everyone worked to solve the crime as well as face the various food truck challenges.
Combining humor, good food, and wacky characters A MURDER MOST FOWL serves up a delectable mystery.
The First Food Truck Mystery
While Aunt Dolly left her food truck to twins Beth and Seth Lloyd, with Seth preparing for the bar exam and a career as a lawyer it's up to Beth and her best friend Rylie to work the truck. That is until Kluckin' Good becomes a contestant on the reality series The Food Truck Showdown, then it's all hands on deck. The first challenge is not without its drama with missing ingredients and threatening notes. But the biggest surprise is the death of contestant Benji, owner of The Dog House and Beth's nemesis. Though the producers are saying he died of a heart attack, Beth isn't so sure. Why would the police be questioning everyone if he died of natural causes? Even though she disliked the man, Beth wants justice seen, so following the true crime podcasts she listens to she and Rylie will sniff out clues and try to catch a killer even as they continue to compete in the culinary competition.
Beth Lloyd is a trip! A bit childish, but supremely competent, she's a fantastic friend, a good sister, and no dummy! I appreciate Seth's overprotectiveness and his ability to work the food truck, though perhaps not drive it. I also think it's great that Rylie speaks Portuguese rather than Spanish! The relationships between the relationships between this trio was fun. Detective Pretty Boy and his partner also made me smile more than once!
My biggest dislike was that the book was written in present tense. Generally I can only read a paragraph or two before tossing a book written in present tense away. It just sounds wrong to me. However, I stuck with the first Food Truck Mystery as I was enjoying the situations and the characters. There were enough sections not in present tense (dialogue for example) that even though I cringed every time I read that tense, I was able to continue. I only wish future books would change tense!
I like how A MURDER MOST FOWL touched on the realities of reality TV and I enjoyed the mystery itself. Benji, with his confrontational and misogynistic attitude, was a perfect victim and I enjoyed how everyone worked to solve the crime as well as face the various food truck challenges.
Combining humor, good food, and wacky characters A MURDER MOST FOWL serves up a delectable mystery.
September 4, 2025
I am not into reality tv or even cooking shows but what I do like is a good mystery and this book hit that mark. I liked the idea for the plot of this book, so gave it ago and I am so glad I did. I loved it, in fact it was clucking good. I really liked the characters. Beth is a hoot and if not in trouble somehow manages to talk herself into it. Making her a fun quirky main character. Seth is the more serious of the twins and the less likely to get in trouble, well unless he is arguing with his sister. Add in a best friend Rylie, that is willing to hide the bodies (well not literally as they are the good guys) and you have a dream team, to not only whip up a storm in the kitchen but to play amateur sleuths. The setting for the murder was different and with the authors style of writing it was a very easy picture to imagine. The mystery was good and while I had my suspicions I was too busy caught up in the antics to really try and figure out who was behind everything going on. I have added the author to my follow list, so I don't miss out on the next book.
When aunt Dolly passes away she leaves her food truck to her niece and nephew. Beth is determined to carry on her aunt's legacy, much to the dismay of a number of other food truck owners. One way to prove she has earned the right to the best locations is to compete on a reality tv cooking show, were a group of truck owners show off there cooking skills each week by carrying out challenges. The competitions is fierce but things really start heating up when threatening letters start to arrive. Then Beth's biggest competitor is found dead, the man that had her arrested for attacking his truck, making her the number one suspect. Beth will need the help from her twin Seth and best friend Rylie to not only win the completion but to clear her name and find the real killer.
I liked the narrator. She helped bring the story to life in a most enjoyable fashion that had me chuckling along with the story.
I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
When aunt Dolly passes away she leaves her food truck to her niece and nephew. Beth is determined to carry on her aunt's legacy, much to the dismay of a number of other food truck owners. One way to prove she has earned the right to the best locations is to compete on a reality tv cooking show, were a group of truck owners show off there cooking skills each week by carrying out challenges. The competitions is fierce but things really start heating up when threatening letters start to arrive. Then Beth's biggest competitor is found dead, the man that had her arrested for attacking his truck, making her the number one suspect. Beth will need the help from her twin Seth and best friend Rylie to not only win the completion but to clear her name and find the real killer.
I liked the narrator. She helped bring the story to life in a most enjoyable fashion that had me chuckling along with the story.
I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
September 7, 2025
One of the most comforting and amazing cozy mysteries I’ve read this year, Murder Most Fowl by Carmela Dutra goes straight onto my favorites shelf, right up there with Vicki Delaney and Carol J. Perry. This book reminded me why I adore cozy mysteries. Murder Most Fowl has everything I crave: the charm of small-town life, a cast of colorful characters, and an intriguing whodunit that managed to keep me guessing until the end.
What stood out most, though, was the heart in these pages. The portrayal of sibling love between the twins felt so authentic. It’s that perfect push-and-pull dynamic of love and exasperation that only a sibling relationship brings. Add in Beth’s effortless and genuine friendship with Rylie, and suddenly this wasn’t just a cozy mystery, it was a warm slice of life with people I didn’t want to leave behind.
It was with a heavy heart that I finished reading the book. I didn't want to exit the world of Seth, Beth, and Rylie. And oh my goodness, Tina Wolstencroft’s narration is incredible. She gives Beth her own personality with such precision and charm, it feels like she stepped right out of Carmela’s imagination.
I can’t wait for the next book in what I hope will be a long, long, looooong series. Carmela Dutra has just earned a permanent place on my cozy mystery reading list.
If this review tickled your detective senses 🕵️♀️🔍, come snoop around my blog for more feel-good mysteries, page-turning escapades, and the occasional plot twist that even I didn’t see coming. 📚✨ Swing by Views She Writes — where books aren’t just read, they’re interrogated (nicely) until the truth spills out.
What stood out most, though, was the heart in these pages. The portrayal of sibling love between the twins felt so authentic. It’s that perfect push-and-pull dynamic of love and exasperation that only a sibling relationship brings. Add in Beth’s effortless and genuine friendship with Rylie, and suddenly this wasn’t just a cozy mystery, it was a warm slice of life with people I didn’t want to leave behind.
It was with a heavy heart that I finished reading the book. I didn't want to exit the world of Seth, Beth, and Rylie. And oh my goodness, Tina Wolstencroft’s narration is incredible. She gives Beth her own personality with such precision and charm, it feels like she stepped right out of Carmela’s imagination.
I can’t wait for the next book in what I hope will be a long, long, looooong series. Carmela Dutra has just earned a permanent place on my cozy mystery reading list.
If this review tickled your detective senses 🕵️♀️🔍, come snoop around my blog for more feel-good mysteries, page-turning escapades, and the occasional plot twist that even I didn’t see coming. 📚✨ Swing by Views She Writes — where books aren’t just read, they’re interrogated (nicely) until the truth spills out.
July 23, 2025
I enjoy a fun cozy mystery as long as it's not TOO ridiculous. I can handle a little silliness and outlandishness, but if it goes to be too much, I'm out. That explains why I DNF'd A MURDER MOST FOWL twice before finally finishing it. As much as I like the book's reality-tv-food-truck-cooking-competition-gone-wrong setup, the story just gets ridiculous. The novel does get a little better as it goes along, so I didn't have to force myself to finish it or anything. It ended up being only an average read for me and yet, I could be persuaded to pick up the next book. We'll see.
Beth is supposed to be an endearingly adorkable heroine, but I found her all kinds of annoying. Although she's supposed to be an adult (at least 21), she acts like a flighty teenager. In fact, all the characters talk and act like kids instead of the grown-up professionals they're supposed to be. I like banter, especially between siblings and besties or in enemies-to-lovers situations, but some of the conversations in this book are just eye-rollingly silly. So are some of the characters, who feel more like caricatures than real people. In spite of that, I do like the warm relationship between Beth and Seth (the rhyming names are definitely cringey) and Rylie. They make for a fun trio, silliness notwithstanding.
As far as plot goes, this one is contrived and confusing. Also predictable. I saw the killer coming from miles away. Some plot twists would have been nice.
So, yeah, A MURDER MOST FOWL was an okay read. It's quick and entertaining overall, but it's also silly, far-fetched, and a bit ridiculous.
If this were a movie, it would be rated: PG for violence
Beth is supposed to be an endearingly adorkable heroine, but I found her all kinds of annoying. Although she's supposed to be an adult (at least 21), she acts like a flighty teenager. In fact, all the characters talk and act like kids instead of the grown-up professionals they're supposed to be. I like banter, especially between siblings and besties or in enemies-to-lovers situations, but some of the conversations in this book are just eye-rollingly silly. So are some of the characters, who feel more like caricatures than real people. In spite of that, I do like the warm relationship between Beth and Seth (the rhyming names are definitely cringey) and Rylie. They make for a fun trio, silliness notwithstanding.
As far as plot goes, this one is contrived and confusing. Also predictable. I saw the killer coming from miles away. Some plot twists would have been nice.
So, yeah, A MURDER MOST FOWL was an okay read. It's quick and entertaining overall, but it's also silly, far-fetched, and a bit ridiculous.
If this were a movie, it would be rated: PG for violence
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