Serving Up the Truth

by Debra Klein

Amanda Knightly, known as the Deli Lady of Oak Hills, hustles behind the grocery deli counter in the cozy Chicago suburb, keeping her smile and her customers delighted…. except for the arrogant young woman who dithers forever before storming off in a huff. When that same young woman is murdered, and a family friend is arrested for the crime, Amanda is shocked. Convinced he’s innocent, she swaps slicing for sleuthing and starts out on a roll.

But things get as stinky as three-week-old potato salad when Amanda gets into big trouble and her list of suspects hits way too close to home. Can Amanda serve up the truth before it’s too late?

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery

284 pages, Paperback

Published March 12, 2025

About the author

Debra Klein is a lifelong Chicagoan, which is also the setting of her debut cozy mystery, Serving Up the Truth. Her Chicago-themed short story “Ghost of a Chance”, is in Tales From The Golden State of Mind anthology. She serves on the board of her Sisters in Crime local chapter and is a member of Mystery Writers of America. A reader of all genres, for Debra, walking into a book store is like stepping into a chocolate shop – she wants one of each!

Reviews

[Kelley Zerfahs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun story to read! Looking forward to Book Club, excited to hear the author will be joining us!

[Mac Daly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amanda, also known as The Deli Lady, is great at making her customers happy. But, she is getting a little tired of a micro-managing boss. So, when the opportunity to take a break and help out a friend at the local coffee shop, she doesn't hesitate for long. Especially when it might aid her in determining who murdered one of the rare customers who were less than pleasant.

Debra Klein has created some interesting and fun characters, including a protagonist who doesn't take dumb chances, yet still ends up in some compromising situations. That, plus a very satisfying mystery makes this one that is hard to put down.

I hope to read more adverntures featuring Amanda and friends.

[Mary Baljevich · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Serving Up the Truth” captured my interest in Chapter 1 and intensified with the completion of each subsequent chapter. One can easily relate to each of the characters. Klein successfully builds out their personalities as the story progresses. There are multiple suspects identified in the novel which added a bit of fun and intrigue as I attempted to solve the mystery. Klein had me fooled…nicely done. This mystery novel is a fun read and appropriate for all ages… young adults to seniors. I recommend adding it to your list of books to read!

[Janet Sheffer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can I move to Oak Hills to be friends with Amanda and Nicki? The murder mystery takes place in the fictitious suburb of Chicago, where everyone knows everyone from the Dark Roast coffee shop and Bob’s Deli. Amanda’s adventures as a sleuth are intermingled with her relationships with her husband, children, and friends. All of the characters are so amusing. Suspense mixed with humor for a very fun reading experience. I look forward to more Amanda Knightly Mysteries to see what “The Sleuth Lady” does next, including the new adventure mentioned in the last pages.

[Lyn Peuler · Rating 5 out of 5]

A friend shared this title from a new author because we both love cozy mysteries. This is the first book in what I hope will be a series set in the Chicago area where we both grew up. I loved the main character who has a generous heart toward her family and friends and persistence to find the truth. I never saw the end coming. It was an easy, enjoyable read.

[Christina Galbraith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Debra has been a family friend of mine for decades and I loved her book! Her book was well-written but remained a mystery as I kept wanting more as I read! I love how it was based in our Chicago roots and it was truly authentic with the midwestern references. This murder-mystery was not boring and it kept me on my toes for sure! I hope she can write a second book👀

[Talene · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really fun, light read. It felt true to the Chicago suburbs in which it takes place and it kept me guessing. You'll want to read it while sipping a mocha latte.

[Sue Shivley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read from a first book author. It kept my interest and I was right in my thought of who committed the murder

[Gina Wirth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute cozy mystery. Not bad for a new author!

[Marian West · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun book about family, taking care of those in your community, and sleuthing. Amanda, who works at the deli counter at the local supermarket, known around town as the Deli Lady, is in the right place at the right time when a friend of her grown son gets arrested for a murder. Claiming he didn't do it, he asks Amanda to help prove his innocence. She puts on her detective cap and starts listening and asking a few questions.

I read a lot of cozy mysteries, and this one is different than most because Amanda is happily married with two grown (or almost grown) children. The family of four eat dinner together most nights and all are respectful of each other. Many cozies will have the protagonist single (maybe divorced or widowed) which leaves room for a love interest. This one has the MC already settled down.

However, there is a lot of lying between Amanda and her husband... which I found weird. He doesn't want her to meddle in the children's love lives, so she just skips that part when recapping her day. And he has a big lie that comes crashing down around him. They still get along and they still love each other... they just need to stop being deceitful.

All the characters are likeable, and even the rude person who got murdered isn't too bad. An enjoyable read.

[Mark Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amanda is known in her town for her smiles behind the deli counter of the local market. But even her patience is tried one day by a rude customer who ultimately buys nothing. But that night, the customer is killed and a family friend is arrested for the crime. Can Amanda figure out what really happened?

The writing took a couple of chapters to smooth out, but I get it, all the character introductions can be hard. Once we got into the mystery, it got much better. The mystery was solid, although I did figure a couple of things out early on the way to the logical climax. Amanda is a different series lead since she is happily married with two young adult children. I loved that difference and what it brought to the story. I’m glad I picked this book up and hope we get to visit Amanda again.

Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.

[JH BookReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first “cozy mystery” read* and I loved it! Good character development and many potential suspects identified. Protagonist was likable. Surprise ending. Overall an engaging read. I even learned a few interesting “fun facts” about coffee! I also enjoyed it was set in the Chicago area, having previously lived there, I could relate to many of the references and visualize the settings.

*I had to look up the definition of a “cozy mystery” and Klein nailed it! “A cozy mystery book is a sub-genre of crime fiction that features an amateur sleuth solving a crime, typically in a small, close-knit community. These stories emphasize light-heartedness, with minimal violence and no explicit sexual content, making them comforting and enjoyable reads.”

[Debgal · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed meeting Amanda Knightly, the Deli Lady. Her sleuthing skills were on full display as she helped the police find the true killer.

Will Amanda be back for a second book? I hope so, as I want to find out what her and Nicki’s next opportunity is. Also, I want to know what the rest of the Knightly family is doing.

[Roberta Sweet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I needed a break from some serious reading so I chose this cozy mystery. The story kept my attention with a likeable protagonist, subtle humor, and a surprising twist in the end. It's a quick and enjoyable read!

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this murder mystery which takes place in an idyllic Chicago suburb. The story line and characters appeals to all ages. The author keeps you guessing until the end. Looking forward to additional books from this up and coming author.

[G.P. Gottlieb · Rating 4 out of 5]

‎ A charming, well-plotted and fast-moving mystery set in a Chicago suburb with a small town feeling, where everyone knows the protagonist as the “Deli Lady.” What a sweet start to a lovely new cozy series!

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

meh