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Hayley Powell Food and Cocktails Mystery #7
Death of a Bacon Heiress
For food and cocktails columnist Hayley Powell, becoming a local culinary celebrity opens lots of doors. Unfortunately, one leads straight to cold-blooded murder…
When Hayley is invited to do a cooking demo on one of daytime's most popular talk shows, it's a welcome distraction from her empty nest blues. And the newfound fame certainly has its perks--especially when Olivia Redmond, the posh bacon heiress of Redmond Meats, offers Hayley a writing gig with a juicy paycheck.
But Hayley's good fortune fizzles fast. The heiress is found dead with her pet pot-bellied pig, Pork Chop, squealing bloody murder beside her body, and clogged arteries aren't to blame. It turns out Olivia's inherited a wealth of enemies over the years, and as Hayley trims the fat off a mounting list of suspects, it's clear that being rich and hot-tempered can be a recipe for disaster…
Includes seven delectable recipes from Hayley's kitchen!
Praise for Death of a Christmas Caterer
"A fun Christmas cozy." --Library Journal
When Hayley is invited to do a cooking demo on one of daytime's most popular talk shows, it's a welcome distraction from her empty nest blues. And the newfound fame certainly has its perks--especially when Olivia Redmond, the posh bacon heiress of Redmond Meats, offers Hayley a writing gig with a juicy paycheck.
But Hayley's good fortune fizzles fast. The heiress is found dead with her pet pot-bellied pig, Pork Chop, squealing bloody murder beside her body, and clogged arteries aren't to blame. It turns out Olivia's inherited a wealth of enemies over the years, and as Hayley trims the fat off a mounting list of suspects, it's clear that being rich and hot-tempered can be a recipe for disaster…
Includes seven delectable recipes from Hayley's kitchen!
Praise for Death of a Christmas Caterer
"A fun Christmas cozy." --Library Journal
283 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 29, 2016
185 people are currently reading
832 people want to read
About the author
Lee Hollis
52 books821 followersLee Hollis is the pen name for Rick Copp and his sister Holly Simason.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews
July 5, 2025
Death of a Bacon Heiress is the 7th book in the Hayley Powell Food and Cocktails Mysteries written by Lee Hollis. I picked up the cozy mystery series earlier this year because it was set in Maine, and I've continued reading it because the protagonist, Hayley Powell, is amusing and clever. As a mother of two teenagers and food columnist for a local Bar Harbor newspaper, she's flanked by besties Mona and Liddy. Liddy is the wealthy high-society friend and Mona is the salt-of-the-earth working class mother who has at least 7 kids so far. When Hayley fills in for a drop-out on a show in NYC called The Chat, sharing a bacon recipe, she meets Olivia, a woman who inherited the bacon-producing company from her late father but who also owns a pot-belly big as a pet / pseudo-child. Olivia summers in Bar Harbor and loves Hayley's column, so they get together to talk business... but one day, Hayley finds Olivia dead. Who killed her and why? Meanwhile, Olivia's husband has a secret and the host from the NYC program shows up, developing a girl crush on Mona. Hollis made me laugh out loud several times and balanced a traditional cozy with several non-traditional elements -- in a positive way. I am saddened by the change in Hayley's relationship status and not fond of the path it looks to be going in... but we shall see when I read the next book later this month.
March 17, 2021
Death of a Bacon Heiress by Lee Hollis is the 7th book in the Hayley Powell Food and Cocktails Mystery series. After her appearance on a television program, The Chat, food columnist Hayley Powell, is hired by Olivia Redmond, owner of Redmond Meats, to write for their blog, only to find her dead shortly afterwards. This has become one of my favourite series, always entertaining and fun. I love Hayley's food and cocktails column with delicious sounding recipes included and I like catching up with the characters. There is always plenty happening making for a quick and easy read. I only wish Hayley would make better choices, especially when confronting her suspects.
March 29, 2016
Another fabulous installment in a series that has been one of my favorites since the beginning!
The Hayley Powell Food & Cocktail Mysteries never fail to make me laugh. The cast of regular characters in this series are absolutely marvelous to read. They are so varied. Each character adds just the right personality to this eclectic group. Author Lee Hollis comes up with some of the best one liners, and hysterical conversations and situations. There is never a dull moment with any of them.
DEATH OF A BACON HEIRESS not only did justice to the rest of the series, it elevated it. That’s not something I would have thought possible. But this was a superb mystery written with a skill that simply amazed me. While the main mystery in the book was completely absorbing, there were also smaller storylines mix in that served to make this book even more outstanding.
I would be hard pressed to pick my favorite part of story, but I will leave you with two words that will always make DEATH OF A BACON HEIRESS memorable to me…Pork Chop.
As always, Hollis has included yummy cocktail and food recipes. You’ll also find an excerpt from the next Hayley Powell mystery, DEATH OF A PUMPKIN CARVER!
The Hayley Powell Food & Cocktail Mysteries never fail to make me laugh. The cast of regular characters in this series are absolutely marvelous to read. They are so varied. Each character adds just the right personality to this eclectic group. Author Lee Hollis comes up with some of the best one liners, and hysterical conversations and situations. There is never a dull moment with any of them.
DEATH OF A BACON HEIRESS not only did justice to the rest of the series, it elevated it. That’s not something I would have thought possible. But this was a superb mystery written with a skill that simply amazed me. While the main mystery in the book was completely absorbing, there were also smaller storylines mix in that served to make this book even more outstanding.
I would be hard pressed to pick my favorite part of story, but I will leave you with two words that will always make DEATH OF A BACON HEIRESS memorable to me…Pork Chop.
As always, Hollis has included yummy cocktail and food recipes. You’ll also find an excerpt from the next Hayley Powell mystery, DEATH OF A PUMPKIN CARVER!
September 28, 2017
I enjoy the series but seems to be going the way of all the series once they hit 6 and seven. The outcome is predictable but I must admit it was fun to watch a new side of Mona appear.
April 15, 2016
**I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for my review**
I really liked this book. The pacing was great, the recipes look delicious, and the mystery was interesting. A nice, quick, light read.
I really liked this book. The pacing was great, the recipes look delicious, and the mystery was interesting. A nice, quick, light read.
November 23, 2016
As always, the Hayley Powell books are fantastic. this one took me a little while to get through, but that's every book nowadays. Recommend!
November 3, 2023
Well, I hate to say it, but even I have to give up what little hope I was holding out for this series to improve. I read and I read, hoping against hope that something, anything would change to make this series better. Instead I came to a revelation that pretty much ended it for me.
I've realized that not a single woman in the book has a decent relationship. Mona hates her [lazy] husband, Liddy keeps finding new boyfriends; and Hayley keeps a boyfriend for a few months and they break up. You know, if this were a group of men instead of a group of women, there'd be a few choice words to say about them. Losers. Players. Drunks. Jerks. Good-for-Nothing. But because they're women it's just bad choices?
The finality for me was the fact that in the last book Hayley and Aaron seemed to be progressing nicely in their relationship and falling in love. But then out of the blue they decide to break up because they're not right for each other? (No spoiler here since you see it coming from the first pages). What? Who wants to read a series where every female (or male) is lousy at relationships? I have a great one, so do my sisters, friends, etc., but I guess they’re not right for each other but in the previous book they were right for each other? WTH? I guess three loser women can hang out together but I sure don’t want to read about them. Maybe if they'd give up the booze for awhile (or at least go easy) they'd be able to figure out what was wrong with their lives and do something about it. Not to mention a situation with Mona just seems so over the top. Right...a woman with seven children. Uh-huh. Soooo believable...
I also couldn't get past the fact that a woman who owns a bacon empire would keep a pig as a pet. A pig. As a pet. And makes her money in bacon. Yeah, and I know a beef salesman that keeps a cow as a pet, too. Another unbelievable scenario. You don't keep your food as pets (unless you're the most insensitive mooch on the planet).
In the end, it's not that I'm promoting you need a man to make you happy. Many, many women do well without one (including one of my sisters). But if you're going to write a series about three friends, why are all of them bad at relationships? It's not plausible. And Hayley has a crappy job that never gets any better, and no money. Jeez, I guess I just got tired of being depressed every time I read one of these books.
I've realized that not a single woman in the book has a decent relationship. Mona hates her [lazy] husband, Liddy keeps finding new boyfriends; and Hayley keeps a boyfriend for a few months and they break up. You know, if this were a group of men instead of a group of women, there'd be a few choice words to say about them. Losers. Players. Drunks. Jerks. Good-for-Nothing. But because they're women it's just bad choices?
The finality for me was the fact that in the last book Hayley and Aaron seemed to be progressing nicely in their relationship and falling in love. But then out of the blue they decide to break up because they're not right for each other? (No spoiler here since you see it coming from the first pages). What? Who wants to read a series where every female (or male) is lousy at relationships? I have a great one, so do my sisters, friends, etc., but I guess they’re not right for each other but in the previous book they were right for each other? WTH? I guess three loser women can hang out together but I sure don’t want to read about them. Maybe if they'd give up the booze for awhile (or at least go easy) they'd be able to figure out what was wrong with their lives and do something about it. Not to mention a situation with Mona just seems so over the top. Right...a woman with seven children. Uh-huh. Soooo believable...
I also couldn't get past the fact that a woman who owns a bacon empire would keep a pig as a pet. A pig. As a pet. And makes her money in bacon. Yeah, and I know a beef salesman that keeps a cow as a pet, too. Another unbelievable scenario. You don't keep your food as pets (unless you're the most insensitive mooch on the planet).
In the end, it's not that I'm promoting you need a man to make you happy. Many, many women do well without one (including one of my sisters). But if you're going to write a series about three friends, why are all of them bad at relationships? It's not plausible. And Hayley has a crappy job that never gets any better, and no money. Jeez, I guess I just got tired of being depressed every time I read one of these books.
February 20, 2016
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a review from Netgalley and Kensington Publishing. All opinions and views expressed in this review are entirely my own.
Haley works at a newspaper as the office manager and writes a food/drink column. Haley is invited to appear on a talk show in New York to showcase one of her amazing bacon recipes. While there, Haley meets Olivia Redmond, heiress to Redmond Meats, the largest meat supplier in the country. Coincidently, Olivia lives on Mount Desert Island, so Haley is familiar with her and her reputation.
After returning home, Olivia convinces Haley to write recipes for the Redmond Meats website. When Haley visits Olivia one day at her estate, Haley stumbles upon a murdered Olivia. Who is the culprit? Could it be Olivia's estranged son, her shifty husband, her employee who feels he should be running the company or her supposedly BFF?
Haley is also dealing with some personal romance issues. All the characters I love are back. Haley has that knack for making people want to talk to her, so she kind of falls into investigating. This series makes me laugh and I always enjoy the recipes that are included. A very fun and quick read that I recommend.
Haley works at a newspaper as the office manager and writes a food/drink column. Haley is invited to appear on a talk show in New York to showcase one of her amazing bacon recipes. While there, Haley meets Olivia Redmond, heiress to Redmond Meats, the largest meat supplier in the country. Coincidently, Olivia lives on Mount Desert Island, so Haley is familiar with her and her reputation.
After returning home, Olivia convinces Haley to write recipes for the Redmond Meats website. When Haley visits Olivia one day at her estate, Haley stumbles upon a murdered Olivia. Who is the culprit? Could it be Olivia's estranged son, her shifty husband, her employee who feels he should be running the company or her supposedly BFF?
Haley is also dealing with some personal romance issues. All the characters I love are back. Haley has that knack for making people want to talk to her, so she kind of falls into investigating. This series makes me laugh and I always enjoy the recipes that are included. A very fun and quick read that I recommend.
April 28, 2016
Hayley and her friends and family are entertaining to read about. This time around a potbellied pig named pork chop is a character. Hayley always manages to get involved in local murders. I can't wait for the next episode in Hayley's life.
April 24, 2020
Every time I pick up a book in this series, I wonder how I got myself another book deeper (this is number *seven* now) into a series that is so ridiculous. Yet here we are. And now it's time to review.
What I liked about Death of a Bacon Heiress:
It made me laugh - These books are so over the top with their caricature characters and eccentric personalities. I mean, the potbelly pig and the pet psychic? WHAT??
A very entertaining case - I don't know if I suspected the culprit or not. I didn't really have time to think about it. The pages kept turning and suddenly the reveal was occurring and I will admit that I was satisfyingly entertained by the ridiculousness of the whole thing. It was this, alone, that got that fourth star in my rating. (Maybe even the third *and* fourth.)
What I didn't care for:
Hayley's personal life - For real. What? Just? Happened?? I do not think I like the direction I sense is coming.
Hayley, Liddy, and Mona - You'd think you could manage to have at least one likable character in the trio of friends, but they all come across as ditzy, shallow, bitter, or irresponsible at any given time. How are they functioning adults? Two-thirds of them with children?? I just wish at least one of them could pretend to be intelligent. Even just occasionally.
There is a LOT of drinking - Three or four (or more) adult beverages pretty much every time they have a scene. It doesn't offend me. I just wonder how long before they all need AA. I'm all in favor of a libation from time to time, but this is excessive.
Proofreading - Some incorrect punctuation. Some inconsistencies where a wrong name was used. Some sentences that read a bit awkwardly. Nothing major. But I still noticed.
Seriously, though. I cannot understand why I keep reading a series so inane. I have contemplated keeping track of the number of times I roll my eyes and facepalm per book and including the statistics in my reviews. The only thing stopping me is that I didn't know I needed to be paying attention to this and there is no way I am going back to reread them all for the sake of continuity. For all my mocking, I'll be picking up book eight soon. Like the proverbial trainwreck... ::wink::
What I liked about Death of a Bacon Heiress:
It made me laugh - These books are so over the top with their caricature characters and eccentric personalities. I mean, the potbelly pig and the pet psychic? WHAT??
A very entertaining case - I don't know if I suspected the culprit or not. I didn't really have time to think about it. The pages kept turning and suddenly the reveal was occurring and I will admit that I was satisfyingly entertained by the ridiculousness of the whole thing. It was this, alone, that got that fourth star in my rating. (Maybe even the third *and* fourth.)
What I didn't care for:
Hayley's personal life - For real. What? Just? Happened?? I do not think I like the direction I sense is coming.
Hayley, Liddy, and Mona - You'd think you could manage to have at least one likable character in the trio of friends, but they all come across as ditzy, shallow, bitter, or irresponsible at any given time. How are they functioning adults? Two-thirds of them with children?? I just wish at least one of them could pretend to be intelligent. Even just occasionally.
There is a LOT of drinking - Three or four (or more) adult beverages pretty much every time they have a scene. It doesn't offend me. I just wonder how long before they all need AA. I'm all in favor of a libation from time to time, but this is excessive.
Proofreading - Some incorrect punctuation. Some inconsistencies where a wrong name was used. Some sentences that read a bit awkwardly. Nothing major. But I still noticed.
Seriously, though. I cannot understand why I keep reading a series so inane. I have contemplated keeping track of the number of times I roll my eyes and facepalm per book and including the statistics in my reviews. The only thing stopping me is that I didn't know I needed to be paying attention to this and there is no way I am going back to reread them all for the sake of continuity. For all my mocking, I'll be picking up book eight soon. Like the proverbial trainwreck... ::wink::
March 28, 2020
Some things were good😊 and some things were not good 😐 but I enjoyed it all. Liddy is still getting on my nerves but it was Mona who got to shine this time. 😊 A great story that I read in a very short amount of time.
April 6, 2016
Death of a Bacon Heiress by Lee Hollis is the seventh book in the Hayley Powell Mystery series. Dr. Alvin Foley has been missing for a couple of weeks. It is the talk of the town until Hayley Powell, writer of Island Food and Spirits for The Island Times, is invited to do a cooking demonstration on The Chat where she meets Olivia Redmond. Olivia is the owner of Redmond Meats (a very powerful and rich woman). Olivia asks Hayley to write blog posts for the Redmond Meats website (and Hayley can really use the money). When Hayley stops by Olivia’s house, she finds Olivia dead in her yard (with Olivia’s pot-bellied pig, Pork Chop nearby). The suspect list is long and includes The Chat hostess, Rhonda Franklin. Hayley will have her work cut out for trying to find the culprit. In the meantime, Hayley has to provide a home for Pork Chop (and Hayley’s other animals are not happy) and is dealing with her boyfriend, Dr. Aaron Palmer (local vet). Aaron has been distant lately and is not returning Hayley’s phone calls (like he is avoiding her). Is he getting ready to propose? And what is going on with Rhonda Franklin and Hayley’s friend, Mona (who has been married for twenty years and has a houseful of unruly children)? They are certainly seeing a lot of each other. Things are lively and about to get worse when the body of Dr. Alvin Foley turns up.
I found Death of a Bacon Heiress to be too ridiculous (silly). The mysteries were extremely easy to solve. The writer tries to lead the reader down the wrong path, but the killer is extremely obvious. Death of a Bacon Heiress can easily be read alone (you do not have to read the previous books in the series in order to know what it going on in the novel). There are some bacon recipes included in the back of the book (a bonus). Martha Stewart must be getting a royalty check from this book since she was mentioned four times. I was shocked that the main character thought three hundred thread count sheets were a luxury. I give Death of a Bacon Heiress 3 out of 5 stars. While Death of a Bacon Heiress is not for me, I am sure that many others will enjoy the humor in the novel.
I received a complimentary copy of Death of a Bacon Heiress from NetGalley (and Kensington Books) in exchange for an honest evaluation of the novel.
I found Death of a Bacon Heiress to be too ridiculous (silly). The mysteries were extremely easy to solve. The writer tries to lead the reader down the wrong path, but the killer is extremely obvious. Death of a Bacon Heiress can easily be read alone (you do not have to read the previous books in the series in order to know what it going on in the novel). There are some bacon recipes included in the back of the book (a bonus). Martha Stewart must be getting a royalty check from this book since she was mentioned four times. I was shocked that the main character thought three hundred thread count sheets were a luxury. I give Death of a Bacon Heiress 3 out of 5 stars. While Death of a Bacon Heiress is not for me, I am sure that many others will enjoy the humor in the novel.
I received a complimentary copy of Death of a Bacon Heiress from NetGalley (and Kensington Books) in exchange for an honest evaluation of the novel.
April 3, 2016
Death of a Bacon Heiress by Lee Hollis is the 7th book in the Hayley Powell Mystery series, and my first book by this author. I don't know where I have been, but I really enjoyed this book and it was a lot of fun to read. It is so exciting to find a new series that you like, now I have 6 books to read. Although this book reads fine as a stand alone, it is always better to go back and start at the beginning of the series.
Hayley is a food and cocktail columnist and office manager at the Mount Desert Island Times newspaper. Hayley gets invited to go to New York to be on The Chat television show to demonstrate a bacon recipe. While in New York she meets Olivia Redmond, the heiress to Redmond Meats, and her pet pig, Pork Chop. After returning home to Mount Desert Island Olivia hires Hayley to write recipes for the Redmond Meats website. When Hayley visits Olivia's estate, she finds a dead body.
Death of a Bacon Heiress was a delightful read full of quirky characters, and humor. The plot line was well developed, and it was a quick easy read. Hayley found suspects around every corner and she was determined to find the murderer. I strongly recommended this book/series for any cozy mystery lovers. I can't wait to read the rest of the series.
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Hayley is a food and cocktail columnist and office manager at the Mount Desert Island Times newspaper. Hayley gets invited to go to New York to be on The Chat television show to demonstrate a bacon recipe. While in New York she meets Olivia Redmond, the heiress to Redmond Meats, and her pet pig, Pork Chop. After returning home to Mount Desert Island Olivia hires Hayley to write recipes for the Redmond Meats website. When Hayley visits Olivia's estate, she finds a dead body.
Death of a Bacon Heiress was a delightful read full of quirky characters, and humor. The plot line was well developed, and it was a quick easy read. Hayley found suspects around every corner and she was determined to find the murderer. I strongly recommended this book/series for any cozy mystery lovers. I can't wait to read the rest of the series.
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 30, 2016
I won this book from the author for a fair and honest review! I really enjoyed this book! How can you not when you add murder, mystery, great drink and food recipes and of course a pig named Pork Chop! Hayley is getting noticed for her food and drink columns that she writes for the island paper. When she is invited to cook for a show on TV and her favorite actress is the one who requested her presence she is stunned! While there she meets Olivia Redmond the famous Bacon Heiress! When she is offered a job from Olivia with a very tempting paycheck she jumps at the chance! Unfortunately her good luck runs out when Olivia is murdered! Hayley steps in and does what she can to help solve this murdered but her life is becoming a mess! Her boyfriend either wants to break up with her or propose, her new job is hanging by a thread, and she has agreed to take in Pork Chop until they can decide on what to do with him. She better make it quick because the killer has her in their sights and if she isn't careful her family and her may wind up the next victims! I highly recommend this book and I can't wait to read the next book in this series!
December 18, 2016
This is a fun cosy mystery, but I thought it could have been so much more. A lady who has inherited a fortune from the pork and bacon industry she still runs, is murdered in her upstate New York mansion.
If I was writing this book I would have looked behind the scenes at raising of pigs intensively and included some animal welfare activists as possible suspects. The unashamed snobbery of the deceased however is shown as the only motive why anyone dislikes her, and a pet pot-bellied pig ironically called Pork Chop is representative of the live animals. Pigs are here to provide us with recipes, not food for thought.
The recipes come courtesy of a food blogger whose services are called upon by the heiress. After the murder is discovered, the recipes continue with snippets from a local paper, and these seriously break the dramatic flow, making the tale seem very light rather than suspenseful. As is, we get a nice little mystery with a few animals and colourful locals on an island. But the massive unsaid, unthought issues surrounding the pork industry mean there is still a book waiting to be written.
I was sent an ARC and this is an unbiased review.
If I was writing this book I would have looked behind the scenes at raising of pigs intensively and included some animal welfare activists as possible suspects. The unashamed snobbery of the deceased however is shown as the only motive why anyone dislikes her, and a pet pot-bellied pig ironically called Pork Chop is representative of the live animals. Pigs are here to provide us with recipes, not food for thought.
The recipes come courtesy of a food blogger whose services are called upon by the heiress. After the murder is discovered, the recipes continue with snippets from a local paper, and these seriously break the dramatic flow, making the tale seem very light rather than suspenseful. As is, we get a nice little mystery with a few animals and colourful locals on an island. But the massive unsaid, unthought issues surrounding the pork industry mean there is still a book waiting to be written.
I was sent an ARC and this is an unbiased review.
December 16, 2024
I received this free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The characters really make the story, not so much the mystery part. Hayley is certainly a fun protagonist but my absolute favorite is Pork Chop, the potbellied pig, who steals the show. Too cute! There wasn't much focus on the murder which made it seem like an after thought and it wrapped up too neatly without any surprises. Since this is the seventh book in a series, not sure if there was enough here to grab my interest and make me go back to read the others.
The characters really make the story, not so much the mystery part. Hayley is certainly a fun protagonist but my absolute favorite is Pork Chop, the potbellied pig, who steals the show. Too cute! There wasn't much focus on the murder which made it seem like an after thought and it wrapped up too neatly without any surprises. Since this is the seventh book in a series, not sure if there was enough here to grab my interest and make me go back to read the others.
May 11, 2020
Fun story with some enjoyable new characters. Miss the kids. There was a character brought in though for no reason and was never referenced back to. Would have liked to see more of the madam.
January 21, 2021
Hallie has a good blog in her newspaper. Olivia is the heir of bacon company. She has a pet pig. She loves him. 2 people are dead including Olivia. What is the connections of these murders.
July 30, 2025
Food columnist Hayley Powell is hired to write articles and bacon-related recipes for the CEO and heiress of a meat distribution company. The job is short-lived when Olivia Redmond is found murdered and Hayley has to figure out who did it.
I saw a worn out copy of this book in a little library and knew I had to read it. That cover. That title. That premise. I wanted something quick and kitschy to read and Death of a Bacon Heiress seemed to fit the bill. I also found it charming that this series is written by a brother-sister duo.
The writing is not the best. There were entire scenes that felt unnecessary and could have been omitted. For example, the entire story takes place in Maine yet Hayley is asked to go to New York to fill in a spot for a daytime talk show. There, she meets and befriends the host of the show, Rhonda Franklin, and Olivia Redmond, the bacon heiress herself. Hayley's time in New York is a couple of chapters long and the rest of the book takes place in Maine, where Rhonda and Olivia are also from and also frequent the area. So why did Hayley have to go to New York?
The transition between chapters also felt random. For example, there was one chapter that ended with a woman getting kicked out of a hotel for fighting with her boyfriend and the start of the next chapter is Hayley inquiring about a completely different character/suspect being arrested. There was no indication at all that this character was arrested before, or that Hayley knew about it. It was implied Hayley's brother told her about the arrest and then she confronted her brother-in-law, the chief of police, for more information, but it was so jarring because it felt like a whole chapter was missing in-between.
And all of the characters, which were a lot since it's the 7th book in a series, felt very one-dimensional. The exceptions were Rhonda Franklin and Olivia Redmond who were insanely temperamental, often switching from one extreme emotion to the next, but were instantly charmed by the main protagonist despite Hayley not doing anything. Plot convenience, I guess.
So who murdered Olivia? The reveal and apprehension of the murderer(s) was quite odd because they could have gotten away with it if they didn't immediately admit to the murder when Hayley brought it up.
My rating isn't great, but I didn't pick up the book because I expected quality writing. I had read three slow, introspective books beforehand and I wanted something fast to breeze through where I could turn off my brain and just enjoy. I also wanted something kitschy. And kitschy is what I got. I didn't know where else to include this, but I was impressed by the amount of side characters who were queer. Points to the authors for that.
I saw a worn out copy of this book in a little library and knew I had to read it. That cover. That title. That premise. I wanted something quick and kitschy to read and Death of a Bacon Heiress seemed to fit the bill. I also found it charming that this series is written by a brother-sister duo.
The writing is not the best. There were entire scenes that felt unnecessary and could have been omitted. For example, the entire story takes place in Maine yet Hayley is asked to go to New York to fill in a spot for a daytime talk show. There, she meets and befriends the host of the show, Rhonda Franklin, and Olivia Redmond, the bacon heiress herself. Hayley's time in New York is a couple of chapters long and the rest of the book takes place in Maine, where Rhonda and Olivia are also from and also frequent the area. So why did Hayley have to go to New York?
The transition between chapters also felt random. For example, there was one chapter that ended with a woman getting kicked out of a hotel for fighting with her boyfriend and the start of the next chapter is Hayley inquiring about a completely different character/suspect being arrested. There was no indication at all that this character was arrested before, or that Hayley knew about it. It was implied Hayley's brother told her about the arrest and then she confronted her brother-in-law, the chief of police, for more information, but it was so jarring because it felt like a whole chapter was missing in-between.
And all of the characters, which were a lot since it's the 7th book in a series, felt very one-dimensional. The exceptions were Rhonda Franklin and Olivia Redmond who were insanely temperamental, often switching from one extreme emotion to the next, but were instantly charmed by the main protagonist despite Hayley not doing anything. Plot convenience, I guess.
So who murdered Olivia? The reveal and apprehension of the murderer(s) was quite odd because they could have gotten away with it if they didn't immediately admit to the murder when Hayley brought it up.
My rating isn't great, but I didn't pick up the book because I expected quality writing. I had read three slow, introspective books beforehand and I wanted something fast to breeze through where I could turn off my brain and just enjoy. I also wanted something kitschy. And kitschy is what I got. I didn't know where else to include this, but I was impressed by the amount of side characters who were queer. Points to the authors for that.
June 19, 2023
WHAT CAN I SAY? FUN READ, GOOD MYSTERY, GREAT RECEIPES AND BACON...EVERYTHING ONE COULD WANT IN A GOOD BOOK.
PREMISE: In this one we continue to follow Hayley Powell who ends up scoring a last minute appearance on a talk-show with Ronda Franklin (think Rosie O'Donnell, I did). While preparing for the show Hayley meets with Ronda and not too much later they're interrupted by Olivia Redmond (an heiress to a bacon fortune) and her Husband and pet pig Pork Chop. When Hayley gets back home Olivia asks her if she'd like some freelance work, writing additional columns for her website about Bacon. Hayley agrees. But the following day Olivia winds up dead and with Pork-Chop as the soul witness, Hayley sets about trying to determine who comitted the murder.
THOUGHTS: One of Lee & Hollis's best in my opinion. I've always loved Hayley Powell's column and loved it this time too, it's was so evenly spaced out between sections of the book. I love that we worked with a Bacon theme this time round also and was salivating when reading the recepies! Ronda reminded me heavily of Rosie O'Donnell and boy did she make for a great addition to the story, I hope we get to see more of her in the future. A tough ending, wont say why because of spoilers, but was tough to see. Reveal was ok (not bad, not amazing). All in all a really good book.
5 Stars!
xoxo.
PREMISE: In this one we continue to follow Hayley Powell who ends up scoring a last minute appearance on a talk-show with Ronda Franklin (think Rosie O'Donnell, I did). While preparing for the show Hayley meets with Ronda and not too much later they're interrupted by Olivia Redmond (an heiress to a bacon fortune) and her Husband and pet pig Pork Chop. When Hayley gets back home Olivia asks her if she'd like some freelance work, writing additional columns for her website about Bacon. Hayley agrees. But the following day Olivia winds up dead and with Pork-Chop as the soul witness, Hayley sets about trying to determine who comitted the murder.
THOUGHTS: One of Lee & Hollis's best in my opinion. I've always loved Hayley Powell's column and loved it this time too, it's was so evenly spaced out between sections of the book. I love that we worked with a Bacon theme this time round also and was salivating when reading the recepies! Ronda reminded me heavily of Rosie O'Donnell and boy did she make for a great addition to the story, I hope we get to see more of her in the future. A tough ending, wont say why because of spoilers, but was tough to see. Reveal was ok (not bad, not amazing). All in all a really good book.
5 Stars!
xoxo.
February 21, 2025
For some reason I couldn’t get into the story the way I do with the others. I think I just didn’t have a big connection or interest in the new characters that were introduced in this book. The situation with Hayley’s relationship with Aaron felt dragged on a little bit, I feel like the entire book was beating around the bush just for what I already expected to happen in the end. I’m sorry to see him go, but I am beyond excited about these sparks between her and Bruce. I will always be a huge enemies to lovers fan and I saw this being set up in book one. I love that the authors took their time getting to this, and I really hope it gets written with purpose Another thing that really let me down in this story was how Haley handled the $20 million. For a character that is constantly droning on about her crappy financial situation, she turned down a fortune like it was an unwanted appetizer. It just didn’t feel in line with her character and as a single mom myself I couldn’t imagine turning down the opportunity to change my children’s lives forever & I can’t imagine that Hayley would either; especially with a dead beat baby dad and a daughter headed to college... Even though I couldn’t get into the story of this time around I really enjoyed the recipes. Maybe it’s because I’m a huge fan of bacon, but I’m really excited to try a lot of these dishes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 6, 2022
I am really enjoying the Hayley Powell cozy mystery series by Lee Hollis! Death of a Bacon Heiress is book 7 in the series. The characters are great and the mystery is interesting. Hayley Powell is a food and cocktails columnist at the local paper. She is invited to do a cooking demonstration on a popular TV show in NYC. She is beyond excited and brings her 2 BFFs Liddy and Mona. The celebrity host Rhonda Franklin is unpredictable but they all get a long especially Rhonda and Mona. They meet Olivia Redmond of Redmond Meats and her pet pig, Pork Chop. It is a fun trip until Olivia is found dead. The book moves along at a good pace and there is enough going on to keep my interest. There are some changes for Hayley as her kids are off and her boyfriend Aaron is busy. The author does a good job with all of that. I had the audiobook and it is well done and brings the characters to life! Very enjoyable!
April 24, 2019
Hayley Powell is invited to New York to tape a cooking show focusing on Bacon. While there Hayley gets to meet several celebrities and the Owner of a Bacon empire that has a pig named Pork Chop. They happen to spend some of the year in Hayley's home town. Olivia Redmond hires Hayley to write a food blog for the company. When her blog doesn't go live, she is forced to go to the estate where she finds an upset Pork Chop and a dead body.
This was a well planned out story with lots of clues and twists. I enjoyed getting to know Mona better in this story. I was surprised once the killer was revealed...I love when that happens.
This was a well planned out story with lots of clues and twists. I enjoyed getting to know Mona better in this story. I was surprised once the killer was revealed...I love when that happens.
August 29, 2020
Another good book in the series I am determined to see all the way to the end. They are starting to seem very interchangeable and form (Haley goes about her normal day, Haley has one added thing on her schedule, Haley stumbles upon a dead body, Haley does the police's job for them and the police are okay with that, Haley solves the case and puts herself in a dangerous situation and is rescued.) They are fun to read anyway just don't expect jaw-dropping changes this late in the game. And the recipes are always a nice bonus which is part of why I read this genre anyway.
August 2, 2022
I began reading this series years ago, but paused for some reason. Then I found Death of a Bacon Heiress. The series is just as good as I remembered! My memories of the main characters returned like old friends, and the plot was intriguing. Relationships took twists I wasn't expecting, but definitely makes me excited to read the next book in the series!
August 4, 2023
This one was just perfect! Lots of food eating, oddball characters, A pet PIG! owned by the head of a huge bacon company, and a psychopathic killer! This just really hit every mark you could want. You find out what happening with Hayley and Aaron, where her kids are, more of the history of the town, and some great recipes. Even Mona has some crazy fun! Perfect.
September 28, 2017
I love this series, and this is another good entry. Hayley has a great opportunity on a TV show to demonstrate some of her beloved bacon recipes, but when someone she meets is killed, she must put aside her own issues and try to find the killer.
October 29, 2017
I like this series but this book was not as good as the one before. It seems like the story is gong in another direction but I have to read the next books so I am caught up before I make a good or bad decision on the changes. I am sad that Aaron & Hayley did not make it. seems odd?
January 13, 2021
Another fun read by Lee Hollis. When I need a light, funny pick me up, I read one of her murder mysteries. I usually laugh out loud a few times in each book. Some of the things the characters say and how they interact are really funny.
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