What do you think?
Rate this book
Kat Calloway Cozy Mystery #6
Cinco de Mayhem: Where Tacos, Trouble, and Murder Are on the Menu
A taco showdown. A dead chef. And two contestants who refuse to fold under pressure.
In Dallas, Cinco de Mayo means sizzling grills and the city’s fiercest taco competition. When Kat Calloway’s boyfriend Bash and her Gramartha enter the cook-off, they’re ready to bring the heat and take home the trophy.
Suddenly, the fiesta takes a deadly turn when a rival chef is found murdered after a day of insults and enough kitchen drama to curdle the crema.
As a top head chef, Kat can handle kitchen chaos. Murder investigations? Definitely not on the menu.
When suspicion starts simmering around Bash and Gramartha, Kat steps in before they become the main course in a police investigation.
With her tuxedo cat, Tux supervising from the nearest countertop like a judgmental food critic, Kat starts digging into the festival’s secrets.
Between a disgraced judge, a furious food critic, and former business partners with a score to settle, Kat’s suspect list grows hotter than ghost peppers at the taco cook-off.
Then Gramartha is nearly run off the road, and the case goes from spicy to sinister.
Now Kat must unravel the recipe for revenge before Granmartha becomes the killer’s next victim.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A great cozy mystery that kept me turning the pages until the very end! Great creative characters and writing style!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This series is easy to read, has really interesting story lines, with mysteries that hold your attention, wonderful characters whom you get to know more as the series progresses, some romance (my favorite being Kat and Bash - love their relationship), a bunch of humor, and great settings. Oh, and food descriptions that make you drool. Just all around enjoyable, hard to put down books!
In Dallas, Cinco de Mayo means sizzling grills and the city’s fiercest taco competition. When Kat Calloway’s boyfriend Bash and her Gramartha enter the cook-off, they’re ready to bring the heat and take home the trophy.
Suddenly, the fiesta takes a deadly turn when a rival chef is found murdered after a day of insults and enough kitchen drama to curdle the crema.
As a top head chef, Kat can handle kitchen chaos. Murder investigations? Definitely not on the menu.
When suspicion starts simmering around Bash and Gramartha, Kat steps in before they become the main course in a police investigation.
With her tuxedo cat, Tux supervising from the nearest countertop like a judgmental food critic, Kat starts digging into the festival’s secrets.
Between a disgraced judge, a furious food critic, and former business partners with a score to settle, Kat’s suspect list grows hotter than ghost peppers at the taco cook-off.
Then Gramartha is nearly run off the road, and the case goes from spicy to sinister.
Now Kat must unravel the recipe for revenge before Granmartha becomes the killer’s next victim.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A great cozy mystery that kept me turning the pages until the very end! Great creative characters and writing style!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This series is easy to read, has really interesting story lines, with mysteries that hold your attention, wonderful characters whom you get to know more as the series progresses, some romance (my favorite being Kat and Bash - love their relationship), a bunch of humor, and great settings. Oh, and food descriptions that make you drool. Just all around enjoyable, hard to put down books!
211 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 23, 2026
About the author
L.B. Dayton
14 books42 followersGraduate 73 and 75 from The Ohio State University with a BFA in Painting, Drawing and Graphics and a BAE in Art Education.
National Exhibition Director and National President of The Colored Pencil Society of America 1997-2004.
Yoga Teacher E-RYT500 2006-present
Competes in Ballroom Dancing
Lives with her husband in The Woodlands
National Exhibition Director and National President of The Colored Pencil Society of America 1997-2004.
Yoga Teacher E-RYT500 2006-present
Competes in Ballroom Dancing
Lives with her husband in The Woodlands
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
May 4, 2026
Cinco de Mayhem
Ben signs up Gramartha and Bash for a cooking competition he thought was a baking contest and they wind up making tacos around a murder investigation. One of the competitors a deeply unpleasant man is killed between the two rounds and Alvarez sets his sights on Gramartha as suspect number one. Kat naturally takes offense and kicks into investigation mode with Ben, Bash and new friend Javi. So will Bash and Gramartha win a trophy or get arrested?
Great story. I don’t get why Alvarez set his sights so quickly on Gramartha it seemed shortsighted to say the least. The victim was incredibly rude to anyone and everyone and that barely scratched the surface of his unpleasant personality. Definitely liked Javi he fit right in with the crew and is a great addition especially with the departing team member. Lots of transitions going on with Kat and Ben making serious and meaningful plans for the long dreamed about business. The festival was a fun backdrop and an excellent place to find friends and suspects. Light and enjoyable read. Looking forward to the next adventure!
Ben signs up Gramartha and Bash for a cooking competition he thought was a baking contest and they wind up making tacos around a murder investigation. One of the competitors a deeply unpleasant man is killed between the two rounds and Alvarez sets his sights on Gramartha as suspect number one. Kat naturally takes offense and kicks into investigation mode with Ben, Bash and new friend Javi. So will Bash and Gramartha win a trophy or get arrested?
Great story. I don’t get why Alvarez set his sights so quickly on Gramartha it seemed shortsighted to say the least. The victim was incredibly rude to anyone and everyone and that barely scratched the surface of his unpleasant personality. Definitely liked Javi he fit right in with the crew and is a great addition especially with the departing team member. Lots of transitions going on with Kat and Ben making serious and meaningful plans for the long dreamed about business. The festival was a fun backdrop and an excellent place to find friends and suspects. Light and enjoyable read. Looking forward to the next adventure!
Review of advance copy received from Author
During the Dallas Cinco de Mayo festival, Bash and Gramartha participate in the taco competition, a charity event to raise funds for the children’s hospital. When one of the competitors is murdered with a high end kitchen knife all of the participants become suspects. Kat and Ben look to determine who the culprit is because Detective Alvarez can never solve a murder without their assistance and he thinks the prime suspect is Gramartha..
Victor, the unfortunate victim, seemed to spend his life purposefully alienating everyone he came into contact with. But who had he angered enough to lead them to murder? Kat and Ben will use their culinary knowledge and connections to locate the culprit and remove Gramartha from the top of the suspect list.
Intertwined with Ben and Kat working towards their catering business launch includes them searching for an appropriate name for their new endeavor. As well as the festival events, and a deep dive into the taco competition, this latest novel in the Kat Calloway series continues to expand on the relationships between the characters, while introducing new ones you will want to find out more about. The author does an exceptional job of drawing you into the setting, leaving the reader feeling like they have been there and are part of the family of characters.
This is a quick read, cozy mystery that is engaging until the end. You will enjoy reading this as a fan of the series. If you haven’t read any of the prior books, starting with this one will be enjoyable, and likely you will want to read more of them.
Victor, the unfortunate victim, seemed to spend his life purposefully alienating everyone he came into contact with. But who had he angered enough to lead them to murder? Kat and Ben will use their culinary knowledge and connections to locate the culprit and remove Gramartha from the top of the suspect list.
Intertwined with Ben and Kat working towards their catering business launch includes them searching for an appropriate name for their new endeavor. As well as the festival events, and a deep dive into the taco competition, this latest novel in the Kat Calloway series continues to expand on the relationships between the characters, while introducing new ones you will want to find out more about. The author does an exceptional job of drawing you into the setting, leaving the reader feeling like they have been there and are part of the family of characters.
This is a quick read, cozy mystery that is engaging until the end. You will enjoy reading this as a fan of the series. If you haven’t read any of the prior books, starting with this one will be enjoyable, and likely you will want to read more of them.
May 12, 2026
Cinco de Mayhem was such a lively and entertaining read. I loved how the festive setting brought so much energy to the story, while the mystery added just enough suspense to keep me hooked from beginning to end.
The characters had a lot of personality, and I enjoyed the mix of humor, small-town drama, and hidden secrets woven throughout the plot. The pacing moved quickly without feeling rushed, and the clues were revealed in a way that kept me guessing while still being easy to follow. There were a few twists that caught me by surprise in the best way.
This ended up being a really fun cozy mystery with plenty of charm and festive chaos. I especially liked the vibrant atmosphere and how the story balanced lighthearted moments with intrigue. A great pick for readers who enjoy cozy mysteries with humor, celebration, and a little mayhem mixed in.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The characters had a lot of personality, and I enjoyed the mix of humor, small-town drama, and hidden secrets woven throughout the plot. The pacing moved quickly without feeling rushed, and the clues were revealed in a way that kept me guessing while still being easy to follow. There were a few twists that caught me by surprise in the best way.
This ended up being a really fun cozy mystery with plenty of charm and festive chaos. I especially liked the vibrant atmosphere and how the story balanced lighthearted moments with intrigue. A great pick for readers who enjoy cozy mysteries with humor, celebration, and a little mayhem mixed in.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 25, 2026
Another great addition to the Kat Calloway Mystery series with the characters you love to read about. It's time for the Cinco de Mayo celebration in Dallas and there is a fierce taco competition. Bash and Gramartha are participants in the competition, to raise funds for the children’s hospital. But when one of the competitors, Victor is murdered with a kitchen knife, everyone at the competition has become suspect, but Gramartha becomes number one on the suspect list. So of course, Kat and Ben have to investigate to clear Gramartha. This is a fun read with mystery, twists and turns, murder and humor. It is a page turner. I can't wait to see what the next adventure will be. I highly recommend not only this book, but the series as well. I received an ARC of this book but the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.
Read
April 27, 2026The group from the Larkspur are getting ready for the Festival when Bash and Gramartha are entered and they are going up against some really tough competition. Victor, from his internet fame is there and is belittling everyone in the competition. He made a mistake picking on Kat's Gramartha she doesn't put up with that kind of thing and let's him know that he's not as good as he thinks he is. Unfortunately, he is murdered after the first day of the Festival. Detective Alvarez is there to investigate but of course Kat and Ben are already doing some sleuthing. Bash is having a bit of the green eyed monster because of a young guy, Javi, that is working one of the food trucks that is just a bit too friendly to Kat. They manage to cook during the festival and find the person responsible for the murder.
I received an arc and this is my review.
I received an arc and this is my review.
May 3, 2026
I really enjoyed this quick cozy mystery. It's the first I read of this series, so I did have to catch up on the cast of characters. But that didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story.
Best friends and co-workers Kat and Ben are preparing to launch their own catering business. However, they have a few details, such as a name or theme to work on.
Meanwhile, they become involved in the local Cinco de Mayo festival, in which Ben has entered Kat's grandmother and boyfriend into a taco competition thinking it was a baking competition. However, during the competition, it's soon very apparent that there is a contestant who isn't popular.... and ends up on the wrong side of a pointy knife!
Now Kat and crew have to locate the unaliver before the overzealous detective tosses her grandmother in a cell!
This story moved along at a great pace and I finished it in no time!
Best friends and co-workers Kat and Ben are preparing to launch their own catering business. However, they have a few details, such as a name or theme to work on.
Meanwhile, they become involved in the local Cinco de Mayo festival, in which Ben has entered Kat's grandmother and boyfriend into a taco competition thinking it was a baking competition. However, during the competition, it's soon very apparent that there is a contestant who isn't popular.... and ends up on the wrong side of a pointy knife!
Now Kat and crew have to locate the unaliver before the overzealous detective tosses her grandmother in a cell!
This story moved along at a great pace and I finished it in no time!
Review of advance copy received from Author
MC Kat is leaning into relationships with family, especially the sustaining bond with her grandmother while creating space for a positive connection with her previously emotionally distant mother. She continues to explore her (mostly) delightful romantic relationship. Her friends and colleagues are both comforting and challenging in the best ways.
And, feline Tux dispenses affection and judgement, sometimes simultaneously.
Oh, and there are enticing descriptions of food (with recipes included!), a cooking competition, a dastardly villain and, of course, a murder to solve.
Recommended!
Although it was my pleasure to receive this ARC from the author, it was completely my choice to share my honest review.
And, feline Tux dispenses affection and judgement, sometimes simultaneously.
Oh, and there are enticing descriptions of food (with recipes included!), a cooking competition, a dastardly villain and, of course, a murder to solve.
Recommended!
Although it was my pleasure to receive this ARC from the author, it was completely my choice to share my honest review.
May 5, 2026
Cinco de Mayhem on Cinco de Mayo in Dallas, Texas. Love the cover of Tux the cat celebrating Taco Tuesday on Cinco de Mayo 2026! This is another great story in the series with Kat, Tux, boyfriend Bash, best friend Ben & her grandma Gramartha. Bash & her gran are in a Taco competition at the Cinco de Mayo street festival that Ben entered them in (without asking if they were interested, LOL). Kat & her crew solve the mystery of who killed a competitor that was rude to her gran (and everyone else) to clear her gran. The 4 recipes at the end of the book look fantastic & even though I already have my own recipes for salsa, tacos, churros & margaritas, I will definitely try all of them! I received this nice cozy culinary mystery as an ARC & am leaving an honest review.
April 28, 2026
Taco debacle.
Entering Bash and Granmartha into a Cinco de Mayo competition without their knowledge turns humorous when Ben discovers it's a taco cooking contest. It could be a fun multi-round competition except for one contestant who constantly insults and degrades everyone else. When he is found dead, there are plenty of suspects for the investigation, including Bash and Granmartha. Kat is not going to wait while the police bumble their way to a wrong conclusion!
The story includes danger, drama, romance, and loving family and friends. A perfect book for a lazy afternoon. I received an advance copy, but my review is honest and voluntary
Entering Bash and Granmartha into a Cinco de Mayo competition without their knowledge turns humorous when Ben discovers it's a taco cooking contest. It could be a fun multi-round competition except for one contestant who constantly insults and degrades everyone else. When he is found dead, there are plenty of suspects for the investigation, including Bash and Granmartha. Kat is not going to wait while the police bumble their way to a wrong conclusion!
The story includes danger, drama, romance, and loving family and friends. A perfect book for a lazy afternoon. I received an advance copy, but my review is honest and voluntary
May 2, 2026
Cinco de Mayhem is a Superb story and series about Kat Calloway a Chef, Tux a very special cat, Ben a Chef and they want to start a Catering Company and Bash who is Kat's Boyfriend and Gramartha who is Kat's Grandmother. Ben signs up Bash and Gramartha to compete in a Charity Taco Competition. Unfortunately one of the competitors dies and Detective Alvarez comes to investigate. Kat with Gramartha, Ben and Bash assist Kat to look for clues to clear their names. But what will they uncover and can they discover the truth?
I enjoyed reading this story very much and I highly recommend that the you read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I enjoyed reading this story very much and I highly recommend that the you read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 7, 2026
Another great mystery in the Kat Calloway universe! I really think that Javi is going to be a great addition to the gang. Along with enjoying the mystery itself, I also enjoyed the quiet moments between Kat and her friends/family/boyfriend. This book in particular seemed full of them, and I'm not mad at it. I was a little surprised that the mystery itself was wrapping up around 75% completion, but I found myself really enjoying the slower wrap-up. Great job and I highly recommend this series.
Also, the cover is ADORABLE.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Also, the cover is ADORABLE.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 2, 2026
First of all I love the title of this book and second of all I love the cover of this book. I’ve read a book by this author before and genuinely loved this book also. Gramartha is a funny and quirky grandma who sounds like a lot of fun to be around. She and Bash were entered into a taco competition without their knowledge and someone turns up dead. I love how they all work together to try to find the culprit. I found myself unable to put this story down just wanted to keep reading til the end.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 4, 2026
Book 6 of A Kat Calloway Cozy Myster. For maximum enjoyment read the books in series order.
'A taco showdown. A dead chef. And two contestants who refuse to fold under pressure.'
The characters were very appealing and complex and complicated and compelling. Plot was intriguing and exciting and well paced. World building was solidly drawn and impressive. Another great addition to the series. Enjoyed immensely and highly recommend.
Grab a copy, kick back and enjoy!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
'A taco showdown. A dead chef. And two contestants who refuse to fold under pressure.'
The characters were very appealing and complex and complicated and compelling. Plot was intriguing and exciting and well paced. World building was solidly drawn and impressive. Another great addition to the series. Enjoyed immensely and highly recommend.
Grab a copy, kick back and enjoy!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 14, 2026
Kat is in Dallas with her boyfriend Bash and her Gramartha who are competing in the taco competition. The competition turns deadly when a rival chef is murdered. When Bash and Gramartha become suspects, Katie jumps into the investigation. As she digs into the festival's secrets, with her tuxedo cat Tux at her side, the suspect list keeps growing. When Gramartha is targeted, Katie knows she has to find the killer soon! This book has it all--wonderful characters, plenty of twists and turns, a little danger, a touch of romance and just enough humor! Don't miss this one!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Another fun and entertaining murder mystery with Kat and friends, and Gramartha, at the Dallas Cinco de Mayo festival. There’s an unplanned entry to the Taco competition, but Gramartha and Bash rise to the challenge. Very enjoyable story that moves Kat’s life further to her dream. Read as part of the series or as a standalone. Recommend this author (she has another series featuring Sadie with an Art Gallery in Chicago).
April 24, 2026
The Kat Calloway Mysteries is one of my favorite cozy mystery series. This installment was a lot of fun with Bash and Gramartha competing together in a taco contest. The thing is, Ben entered them in the competition and they knew nothing about it! And they find out just a few days before the contest starts!! A contestant with a bad attitude winds up being murdered and the mystery begins.
An entertaining mystery, great writing, and highly recommended!
An entertaining mystery, great writing, and highly recommended!
April 30, 2026
Cinco de Mayo is a big deal in Dalles and Ben enteres Bash and Kat's grandma Granmartha into a baking contest only to find that it is a taco cooking competition. The two are settling down In the tent but one competitor keeps everybody on edge with snide remarks. When he is found stabbed to death Granmartha becomes the main suspect, due to an "argument" with the victim.
Kat can't let that simmer and starts investigating herselves.
Kat can't let that simmer and starts investigating herselves.
May 2, 2026
A fun cozy mystery. I really enjoy this series (all books can be read stand-alone). This time Kat, Bash and Granmartha are pulled into the mystery of a dead chef, and some of them are even considered suspects. Great interaction between the characters that will make you smile and quirky characters make for a fun read. And the storyline will keep twisting and turning as you follow along.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 4, 2026
Bash and Grandmartha get entered in a taco competition for Cinco de Mayo. Early on chaos ensues when one of the contestants is murdered. Gramdmartha and several others including other contestants, a disgraced judge, furious food critic and former business partner. Can Kat unravel this mystery before it’s too late. So many changes in this one. Looking forward to the next book so much. I volunteer reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
May 10, 2026
Cute story in theory
I like a good cozy culinary mystety and have read several different series. This one was painful to read. The wording was extremely repetitive. There are better ways to describe people, places, and situations than using the same tired turn of phrase. Mystery was solved 3/4 of the way through. The rest was extraneous fluff to get to an ending point. Too much extra crap was added in. Disappointed 😞
I like a good cozy culinary mystety and have read several different series. This one was painful to read. The wording was extremely repetitive. There are better ways to describe people, places, and situations than using the same tired turn of phrase. Mystery was solved 3/4 of the way through. The rest was extraneous fluff to get to an ending point. Too much extra crap was added in. Disappointed 😞
Review of advance copy received from Author
Another edge of your seat adventure with Kat, Ben, Tux and the rest of the gang as they try to survive a charity Taco Contest at the Cinco De Mayo fest where murder happens when you least expect it and everyone’s a suspect.
Kat and Ben are also trying to figure out their catering company plans while also juggling Larkspur stuff and Gramartha being run off the road
Kat and Ben are also trying to figure out their catering company plans while also juggling Larkspur stuff and Gramartha being run off the road
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Very good and enjoyable! A well-built mystery, with meaningfulness alongside action. I like that there are moments of humour, too, like about how rarely Wayne laughs. And I love Gramartha’s determined personality.
I get that, Kat: “I know it’s the right thing. And I’m still terrified.”
“Please don’t be a murderer. I would be very sad if you were a murderer.” 😂
I get that, Kat: “I know it’s the right thing. And I’m still terrified.”
“Please don’t be a murderer. I would be very sad if you were a murderer.” 😂
May 3, 2026
I enjoyed the newest entry in this series. Things take a turn for the worse when an uppity chef gets murdered and someone Kat loves dearly is a suspect. Kat and the crew can't stay out of it, as usual, and there are hi jinks, dangers and romance! Love it!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 8, 2026
Loved the commaderie of the characters as they fit into the story.
I love a good story filled with family values and constant conversations to make sense of a situation. The food service world can be cruel , but when you have created a balance in life, the struggles are easily maneuvered into a daily ritual. And you can find yourself on the winning end, no matter what.
I love a good story filled with family values and constant conversations to make sense of a situation. The food service world can be cruel , but when you have created a balance in life, the struggles are easily maneuvered into a daily ritual. And you can find yourself on the winning end, no matter what.
May 26, 2026
i loved this story. In the the midst of a full Cinco De Mayo festival, their is a murder. It is a great whodun it. I will say that it wasn't one where I figured it out at the very beginning. It was written really good as I could almost taste the smells that was described. Throw in a cute cat and a kick butt grandma and it is a great story.
April 26, 2026
This was a cleverly written cozy mystery with interesting characters, a clever plot, and a host of delicious recipes at the end of the novel.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 30, 2026
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. It is another great mystery in this series where Kat gets involved in solving it. The victim is not likeable and Gramartha is a prime suspect. I liked how everything gets solved.
April 30, 2026
This book was an excellent cozy mystery. I love Kat Calloway and her friends when they come together to solve a mystery. Granmartha is always in something and I love it. Tux never fails to disappoint. I love the new character Javi; he is so well-developed and brings a lot to the story.
May 2, 2026
A great cozy mystery that kept me turning the pages until the very end. Create characters and writing style!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I loved this book! These characters are complex and fun to get to know. I have enjoyed all of this series; watching the various relationships evolve. I highly recommend!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews