Death of a Grill Master

Hayley Powell Food and Cocktails Mystery #19

by Lee Hollis

After a record-breaking tourist season, Bar Harbor is ready for the less eventful off-season. But the murder of a barbecue baron will keep restaurateur Hayley Powell busy well after Labor Day . . .

Hayley and her husband are snuggled into a secluded spot on Maine’s rocky shoreline to take in the big fireworks display on Frenchman’s Bay. But when they find Hank Desmond’s body floating in the darkness, it looks like summer is ending with a bang—from a gun registered to a rival BBQ chef.

Despite the evidence, Hayley thinks there’s more to the story than a gunshot from a disgruntled pit master. Unfortunately, the new police chief, just arrived from Boston, is more interested in layoffs than in listening to Hayley’s theories. So she starts grilling anyone she can to find out what happened on the party boat that Hank was aboard earlier in the evening—accompanied by his much-younger wife and a sleazy seasonal resident. There are also some competitors who’ve been skewering Hank, owner of the BBQ joint The Smokehouse, for his business practices, including the owners of a diner and a food cart.

Hayley just hopes that when the smoke clears, she’ll be able to serve up the real culprit to the cops—and bring the temperature down in this picturesque town . . .

Includes delectable recipes from Hayley’s kitchen!

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction

394 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication September 29, 2026

About the author

Lee Hollis is the pen name for Rick Copp and his sister Holly Simason.

Reviews

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful installment in the series, and I found myself seeing so many plot points coming together, I had to give it five stars. Set in the beautiful coastal cliffs of Maine, a few deaths come barreling forward as Hayley figures out what to do with her life. She's had a few career changes, but another is on the horizon, and something with the way the story unfolded this time kept calling me back. That said, don't read further if you prefer not to read a spoiler... warned ya, okay here it goes. I had to give the book 5 stars because it's the final one in the series, which was a surprise. I had no idea it was coming to a conclusion, and honestly it saddened me. Even though we didn't get enough time with her children, and I think marrying Bruce was the wrong choice, I still love her relationship with Mona and Liddy. But there's good news, beyond how well written all the final connections are. Hayley may continue doing some investigating in a new series or standalone book with her daughter, Gemma!

[Katie Lavoie]

Exactly what I expect from a cozy mystery - a busy-body sleuth, a cute small town with ample suspects, and a lot of misdirection when looking for the killer.

I really liked all the extra (and arguable unnecessary) sections added - Hayley’s articles for her food & drinks feature and drink & dinner recipes (that sound delicious!)

Unfortunately, this wasn’t my favorite of the series. With the addition of a new chip of police who didn’t want Hayley involved, I struggled with Hayley strong arming her friends to help her investigate since it put their positions at risk. It just seemed unnecessary and self-absorbed, which took me out of the story a bit.

Thanks to Lee Hollis, Kensington, and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

[L.M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not crying, you're crying! I can't believe one of my all-time favorite series is ending. While there will be a new series starring Hayley and her daughter Gemma, I'm still sad to see this chapter closing. I started reading this series on a Christmas break and I binge read book after book, loving every recipe, every near-miss, every page of every book. Every time a new book comes out I'm first in line to read it and now what will I do with myself?

In this book, Hayley and Bruce are watching the fireworks when someone is shot on their boat. The victim had taken advantage of, used, and cheated half the people in town and had more enemies than Maine has blueberries and the killer could be literally anyone. But Hayley is determined! Meanwhile everything is changing in Bar Harbor, Randy and Sergio are leaving town (and - spoiler alert - they're not the only ones), Hayley is stepping away from her restaurant, and as fall approaches there's every indication that this will be a long and lonely winter. This made for a bittersweet story because even as Hayley was going about digging up clues and dodging danger, it was impossible to forget that this was the end.

When people express an interest in the cozy mystery genre, this is one of the first series I recommend to them. Everything that I love in a cozy is front and center, fun MC, cute dog, lovely seaside setting, a little romance, good friends, mouth-watering recipes, and so much murder. I always hoped this series would be one that lasted 30+ books but I guess we'll have to settle for 19.

Thank you to Lee Hollis for 14 years of fun adventures and for continuing the series in a new format. I can't wait to read the new series!

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington for providing me with an ARC.

[Hillary Gurrola · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m sad to say that my favorite cozy mystery series has come to an end. The finale did not disappoint! Our main character and sleuth, Hayley, is processing a lot of change. Her beloved brother, Randy, and his husband, Chief of Police Sergio, have announced their decision to leave Bar Harbor and move to Brazil. This sets a few things in motion: Hayley’s favorite local hangout, Drinks Like a Fish, is getting a new owner, a new Police Chief arrives in town, and Hayley starts questioning her next move.

She doesn’t have time to process her thoughts before a murder happens. The best way to not process the changes is to keep busy with an investigation, right? As we know and love, Hayley is relentless in her pursuit of the truth and justice. The new Police Chief, Caleb Maddox, is not loving this. The stakes are high in this one and all of Hayley’s loved ones are worried for her safety more than usual. It was a very good mystery!

The main sidekick in this story was Sergeant Earl and I loved Hayley and Earl’s team up! They had me cracking up a few times and wishing for another book so they could team up again.

I loved how the book wrapped up the stories of all our favorite characters and included a peek of where each is headed next. This includes Hayley, Bruce, Randy, Sergio, Mona, and Liddy. I was very satisfied with everyone’s endings. But wait! The author announced that Hayley Powell will return in a new culinary themed mystery series in a team up with her daughter Gemma. I can’t wait and hope to see visits from all of our favorites from Bar Harbor!

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Death of a Grill Master by Lee Hollis is a fabulous culinary cozy mystery that is the 19th book in the Hayley Powell Food and Cocktails Mystery series. This is my favorite series!

I am a long time fan and reader of this amazing series. I have read all 19 books and the additional novellas since the very beginning. It is my favorite series, thus this book is hard to finish.

Hayley and Bruce (by association) are wrapped into another murder mystery when a famous BBQ baron is found murdered right as the busy tourist season is wrapping up shop. Despite past experiences, or because of them, Hayley knows there is more to it than what the new police chief’s concerns seem to be. There are plenty of suspects and Hayley has her work cut out for her with finding the culprit of this latest murder.

As always, I love the characters, the dynamics, the sarcasm, the banter…I just love it all, and always will. I cannot recommend this book and series enough.

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Kensington Publishing | Kensington Cozies for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 9/29/26.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fans of Haley Powell and this series - Read this book! And avoid spoilers!!!

I will not spoil as I want readers to enjoy this book the way I did with no prior knowledge except that I knew it would be good.
All our favorites are there and in action. From Mona and Liddy to Randy and Sergio.

It's been a busy time on Bar Harbor as locals prepare to enjoy Labor Day and fireworks. But of course, there's a body! Let the fun begin as our sleuth just had to jump in and start hunting for a killer. There are many choices and twists to enjoy while throughout the story we readers get breadcrumbs to follow that work so well together. You the reader, will enjoy trying to follow them as you reach towards the end.

It's a fun read and fans will love!!!
This book publishes September 29th

Many thanks to Kensington, NetGalley and Lee Hollis for allowing me to read in exchange for a fair review. All views are my own.

[Karen Stallman · Rating 5 out of 5]

“ Death of a Grill Master” by Lee Hollis the 19th instalment in the Haley Powell Food and Cocktails Mystery series. After a record-breaking tourist season, Bar Harbor is ready for the less eventful off-season. But the murder of a barbecue baron will keep restaurateur Hayley Powell busy well after Labor Day . . .

I love this series, the stories always catch my attention and pull me in right away. This instalment was no different.

I found the mystery was well written and paced with lots of twists and turns. It kept me guessing to the end. I am saddened that this is the last book in the series but happy that Haley will star with her daughter in an all new series soon.

I highly recommend this series to all my cozy loving friends !

I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from Kensington Books and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Joanie Hinton · Rating 5 out of 5]

The end of the tourist season is upon Bar Harbor. Labor Day has the town celebrating with fireworks and boats decked out in the bay. Then the man who claims to be the Grill Master is found shot dead on his boat. Evidence points to three possible suspects, but it doesn't sit right with Hayley Powell; local food blogger, restaurant owner, and town sleuther. Not even having her life threatened multiple times stops her from investigating to find the real killer, even if the new sheriff warns her off, multiple times. And while sleuthing, she has to deal with her brother and his husband moving to Brazil. Too many changes happening for Hayley, but nothing stops her...
(Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy)

[Anita Resnick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lee Hollis has given us another thrill ride with Hayley Powell on her journey to find out who killed barbecue master Hank Desmond. With changes happening all around, a bunch of people who had it out for Hank and a new, and not so welcoming, Chief of Police, will Haley catch the killer in time? Includes yummy recipes for food and drinks courtesy of her Island Times articles. This is a fun and quick read and, sadly, the last in the Haley Powell Food and Cocktails Mysteries. But she'll be back with her daughter, Gemma in a new series!

[Cozybooklady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haley Powell is back again in the final book of this much loved series.
The death of a local BBQ master has shocked the local residents, however, not everyone is going to miss him.
The suspect list is long, and everyone had a motive, but it's up to Haley to figure things out.

I've enjoyed the series very much and I'm going to miss all the characters, but I'm looking forward to reading the new series by this author.

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Death of a Grill Master is a fun and entertaining cozy mystery, full of quirky characters (some endearing, others not so much). Hayley has an insatiable need to find answers and bring about justice, to the frustration of the police chief and her husband (although he understands that drive in her). I enjoyed the light-hearted and sometimes suspenseful escapades Hayley embarked on to find answers.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Death of a Grill Master is the 19th and final book in the Hayley Powell Food and Cocktails Mystery series. This is a fun and quirky cozy mystery. Hayley, as usual, gets involved in the most recent murder in Bar Harbor, much to the chagrin of the new police chief. There are lots of shenanigans going on, lots of friends involved, and plenty of twists and turns before the mystery is solved. Although I have not read all of the books in the series, I recommend it as a fun series to explore.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has been a long-time cozy favorite of mine. As I was reading it, it felt “off” to me Maybe because Sergio and Randy weren’t involved. I didn’t realize until I got to the end that it was the last book in the series. Things wrap up very neatly in the end that will make fans of the series happy. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eArc in exchange for a review.

[Kelly - Words We Love By · Rating 4 out of 5]

How is this the end? After 19 books (and seriously...why stop at 19 instead of a nice, even 20?!), it's hard to believe I'm saying goodbye to Hayley Powell. And no, I'm not crying...you're crying.

I've loved following Hayley through every mystery, every laugh, every recipe, and every cocktail over the years. This series has been one of my all-time favorite cozy mysteries, and Lee Hollis gave readers exactly the kind of ending these beloved characters deserved.

This time, Hayley and her husband discover the body of local BBQ restaurant owner Hank Desmond after an evening of fireworks on Frenchman's Bay. With several suspects, plenty of motives, and more than a few heated arguments before Hank's death, it looks like another case Hayley is determined to solve.

There's just one problem...
There's a new police chief in town.
Chief Caleb Maddox has no interest in Hayley's amateur sleuthing. Her brother-in-law is no longer chief, and Caleb makes it crystal clear that Hayley is to stay far away from the crime scene, the evidence, and the deputies working the case.

But let's be honest...when has Hayley Powell ever been good at following the rules?
As always, the mystery is well-paced, the writing is sharp, and the suspects keep you guessing until the very end. The humor, family dynamics, and small-town charm that made me fall in love with this series are all here, making this the perfect farewell to a character who has felt like an old friend.

While I'm incredibly sad to see Hayley Powell's journey come to an end, I'm grateful Lee Hollis gave us such a satisfying final adventure. It's everything longtime fans could hope for - fun, heartfelt, suspenseful, and a reminder of why this series has been such a favorite for so many years.

Now if you'll excuse me...I'll just be over here pretending this isn't really goodbye.