Dying for a Taste

A Sally Solari Mystery #1

by Leslie Karst

After losing her mother to cancer, Sally Solari quits her job as an attorney to help her dad run his old-style Italian eatery in Santa Cruz, California. But managing the front of the house is far from her dream job.

Then in a sudden twist her Aunt Letta is found murdered in her own restaurant, and Sally is the only one who can keep the place running. But when her sous chef is accused of the crime, and she finds herself suddenly short-staffed, Sally must delve into the world of sustainable farming—not to mention a few family secrets--to help him clear his name and catch the true culprit before her timer runs out.

Leslie Karst serves a platter of intrigue in her stirring and satisfying debut Dying for a Taste, which is sure to become a new favorite of food mystery fans.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Cozy, Food, Murder Mystery, Culinary

304 pages, Hardcover

First published April 12, 2016

About the author

The daughter of a law professor and a potter, Leslie Karst learned early, during family dinner conversations, the value of both careful analysis and the arts—ideal ingredients for a mystery story. Putting this early education to good use, she now writes the Sally Solari Mysteries (Dying for a Taste, A Measure of Murder, Death al Fresco, Murder from Scratch), a culinary series set in Santa Cruz, California.

An ex-lawyer like her sleuth, Leslie also has degrees in English literature and the culinary arts. She now spends her time cooking, singing alto in her local chorus, gardening, cycling, and of course writing. Leslie and her wife and their Jack Russell mix split their time between Santa Cruz and Hilo, Hawai‘i.

Reviews

[Jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

I decided to read this book because it takes place in Santa Cruz, CA where I live. I always attempt to read local authors. It is amazing how many writers and poets live in this area. I use to think that authors and artist primarily lived in the Monterey-Carmel area, but that is no longer true. It is amazing how many writers live in the area from beginners to very famous authors and poets. There is about a dozen or so that primarily write mystery stories. Many of the set in the story locally as does this book.

The book is well written and mainly stays focused on the crime. I enjoyed the descriptions of the local area. The protagonist is a local native Italian girl who obtained a law degree but went back to work in the family’s local Italian restaurant after her mother’s death. Her aunt is murdered and she inherits her aunt’s restaurant and sets off to solve the murder of her aunt. The story is an easy read.

I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is seven hours and fifty-four minutes. Adrienne Cornette does a good job narrating the book. Cornette is an audiobook narrator. While working on her Ph.D. she began narrating textbooks then went on to narrate for the Foundation for the Blind.

[Ell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sally Solari isn't your typical restaurateur. She's a former lawyer whose friendly ex-boyfriend happens to be the local D.A. , so when Sally's aunt is murdered, she easily takes on the role of a private investigator to get to the bottom of who-dunnit. The mystery is well developed and the cast of characters are entertaining. The unfolding of the story kept me engaged. I look forward to reading the next book in the series!

[Billie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great new mystery series with twists and turns that involve an Italian family, the local food and restaurant business in California. Includes a few recipes. This entertaining novel will leave you guessing who done it until the very end. This book was received free through Goodreads Giveaways.

[Moondance · Rating 3 out of 5]

At least twice a week, I have customers tell me how lucky I must feel, having been born into this family.

Sally Solari left the world of corporate law to return to her family's restaurant in Santa Cruz, California. She took over the front of the house after her mother's death. Solari's is an authentic hearty home cooked Italian restaurant. Sally's Aunt Letta owns a Polynesian/French restaurant, Gauguin's, nearby. Sally inherits the restaurant when Letta is murdered in the kitchen and her sous chef, Javier is the prime suspect.

This book started out a little slow but picked up the pace about midway through. The characters are well rounded and the plot is well planned. There are current social issues addressed that are quite well done.

Sally's ex-boyfriend, Eric, is a refreshing change from the normal ex. He and Sally have remained friends and he is very supportive. As an attorney, he is able to help her initially with the investigation and continues to be her sounding board.

Letta had a number of secrets that we find eventually led to her death. The suspects come to light one by one as Sally delves into threats that Letta was receiving. I began to question each of the men in her life particularly her boyfriend, Tony and her sous chef, Javier. Then we have the mysterious possible affair.

There was quite a bit of action at the end of the book as the killer becomes agitated and lashes out.

There are yummy recipes at the end of the book. The pork chop dish particularly caught my eye. It may be on the dinner rotation soon.

This was a good start to the series and I will look for the next book.

[Tari · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed getting to know these characters and the twists in the plot that kept me guessing who the killer was. I was happy that Sally and her dad came to an agreement over the Gauguin restaurant and thought the ending was pretty cool and very appropriate. I'll be interested in reading the next book as well. I liked how Sally and Eric got along well and worked together on the mystery even though they'd once been involved but had broken up. Nice when there isn't conflict or animosity.

[Mark Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sally is shocked to learn that her aunt Letta has been murdered in the restaurant that Letta owns in Santa Cruz. The evidence seems to point to Javier, Letta’s sous chef. Yet Sally doesn’t think he’d murder Letta, so she starts digging into Letta’s life. She uncovered some surprising secrets, but which of them might have gotten Letta murdered?

I really enjoyed this debut. It got off to a bit of a slow start as Sally dealt with the aftermath of having a relative die, but this section does help develop her character and sets up suspects. Once she fully commits to the investigation things pick up. We are introduced to several viable suspects. The story touches on some other issues as well, presenting them in a well-rounded manner and never forgetting that this is a murder mystery, both of which I greatly appreciated. The climax was creative and fun. I’m definitely looking forward to finding out what happens to Sally next.

Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.

[Jeanie Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well rounded characters with depth who are allowed to grieve for the departed take the cozy mystery to another level. I like that I got to know the main character before she began investigating the death. The plot included several character twist that kept me on my toes and had me rethinking the murder plot. It really added to the quality of the mystery. I took most of the book trying to figure out who had kill Sally's aunt. It was fun seeing her friendship with Eric but I can see why she chose not to marry him! Good friends don't necessarily make good partners. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

[Micky Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting characters enveloped inside an intriguing plot with multiple options as villains makes this cozy mystery a very entertaining read. Mix in Italian restaurants on a seaside setting and you have a mouth watering backdrop to entertain you. It's a good thing the author includes some recipes at the back of the book to feed your tastebuds after you finish entertaining your brain! I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

After losing her mother to cancer Sally returns to help her dad run his Italian eatery. Then her aunt is murdered and leaves her a restaurant to run. Her aunts chef is accused of the murder and Sally is sure he didn't do it. Several surprises about her aunt are found and danger from a PETA type organization adds to the story.

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first in the Sally Solari mystery series set in Santa Cruz, California, and I loved it! To be fair, given that Sally went to law school but eventually ended up working in her family's restaurant -- and Karst herself is an attorney who then went to culinary school as I did -- it would have taken a lot for me not to love this book. But the way Karst developed Sally, her friends and her family as characters was wonderful, the plot of the book was delightfully twisty and her writing was simply a joy to read!

There are currently 3 more books in this series and I will definitely be reading all of them!

[Keenan Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a balm for the soul! Sally Solari gives up the practice of law to help out in her father's Santa Cruz, California, old-style Italian eatery. Her aunt Letta, who owns and runs a restaurant in the same town, Gauguin, is found cruelly murdered in her own establishment. The prime suspect is a Gauguin chef, Javier. Unbeknownst to Sally, Letta has left the restaurant to her. In addition to running two restaurants, she takes on the investigation, convinced that Javier is unfairly accused.

The writing is a gorgeous balance of pitch-perfect dialogue, keenly-observed action, beautifully-rendered settings, and food. I can't wait to read about Sally's continuing adventures in this series.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun start to a cosy mystery. I found the plot and the characters interesting. I want to read more of this series to learn about the main character, Sally and the direction the author wants to go with this storyline.

[Gillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun mystery with yummy recipes

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is like a 2.5 star read for me bit I am rounding up because I enjoyed the book. Most cozies do not have swearing, but this one had some few choice words. I did like the book enough to read the next book.

[Pamoliverio · Rating 4 out of 5]

A mystery set in Santa Cruz & recipes too! I love a book where I know the setting very well, is a satisfying mystery, and ends with yummy Italian recipes.

[JoAnne McMaster (Any Good Book) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sally Solari quit her job as a corporate attorney to return to her father's Italian restaurant after her mother passed away. Although she doesn't miss her old life, her new one is about to become more complicated than she ever thought...

While having lunch one afternoon she receives a phone call from her ex-boyfriend Eric, a District Attorney, who tells her that her Aunt Letta has been murdered; and it occurred at Letta's restaurant, Gauguin. To make it worse, all the evidence is pointing toward Letta's head chef Javier, as the guilty party. But neither Eric nor Sally believe he's the killer, and Eric quietly urges her to help Javier if she can, since Eric isn't able to due to his job.

So Sally, after speaking with Javier, reluctantly agrees and sets about trying to find out who killed Letta and why. What she comes across not only knocks her for a loop, it also becomes a tale enmeshed with secrets and lies, leaving her to wonder if she ever really knew Letta at all...

Letta, her father's younger sister, hated working at the restaurant when she was young and bailed as soon as she came of age. After spending several years away, she returned and opened Gauguin, but still remained semi-estranged from her family, only occasionally returning for the weekly Sunday dinners at her mother's, and never really connecting with her brother again. The only one she remained somewhat close to was Sally, who also considered herself an outsider, because she too left and went to law school.

Even so, Sally is stunned when she learns that Letta willed the restaurant to her and she is now the new owner. Not sure if she wants the responsibility, it strains her own relationship with her father when he treats this as a betrayal by his late sister, figuring Sally will want to leave Solari's once again.

As the police don't seem to be looking for another suspect, Sally continues searching, uncovering things Letta never intended for anyone to know. Along the way, she also discovers that Gauguin was under attack by a radical who wanted her to serve only sustainable seafood and humanely raised meats, and with this new suspect also added soon finds more than enough people on her list. Eventually she realizes, almost too late, that's she's not only on the tail of the real killer, but that the real killer is on her tail as well...

Dying for a Taste is the freshman debut of Leslie Karst, and it's a very good one indeed. I will be honest and tell you that it didn't grab my attention right away, but after a few chapters I 'fell in with the action,' as it were, and found myself enjoying the story and trying to figure out the clues leading to the killer right along with Sally.

I did realize who the killer was ahead of time, but it never stopped my enjoyment of the book. When the final chapters arrive, it is riveting, and we wind up right along with Sally, in a frenetic intensity to escape a killer before she becomes the next victim. Highly recommended.

[LORI CASWELL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Sally Solari is still reeling from her mom’s death when her Aunt Letta is murdered. Letta is Sally’s father’s younger sister and they had a falling out years ago. He runs an old-style Italian restaurant where she runs an eatery serving more lighter farm fresh dishes. Now Sally is caught in the middle because her aunt left the restaurant to her in her will. When one of the chefs is taken into custody for the murder, Sally has no choice but to try to step into her aunt’s shoes. She also believes the chef is being framed and needs to prove it. So Sally is now working the front of the house for her dad, running the whole restaurant for her aunt and trying to catch a killer. Hang on tight, this story goes at a good clip!!

Cozy foodie lovers rejoice, this is a new mystery you can take a big bite of!

Sally Solaris is one smart cookie. She has a lot on her plate but she juggles everything that is thrown at her. Coming home to help her dad after her mother passed away and leaving her job as a lawyer behind was a huge step. Her dad is set in his ways and believes woman don’t belong in his kitchen so she takes her mom’s spot in the dining room. She had a relationship with her aunt and is taking her death hard but she needs to keep her restaurant going. Faced with losing a chef she was counting on, she steps up her game to even help in the kitchen herself. Plus she is traveling all over the area investigating trying to figure out who killed her aunt and why. I was engaged by this woman immediately.

Ms. Karst dishes up a great mystery too with plenty of red herrings to keep both Sally and us readers fishing for answers. I was pretty proud of myself because I thought I had it all figured out until those last clues sent me in a different direction. One I had discarded early on. She had me, hook, line, and sinker.

This debut was quite tasty! Are you Dying for A Taste?

[Jeannie and Louis Rigod · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sally Solari leaves the field of civil law and returns to her families business...a restaurant in Santa Cruz, California. Sally is accepted back into the fold by taking her deceased Mother's role in the company...book work, scheduling etc. No woman will work the 'Hot Line' in her father's kitchen.

Thus, it really is no surprise that Sally bonded, or was beginning to bond, with her Aunt Letta. Aunt Letta had the courage to leave the family and move on to Berkeley during the 1970's and loved the free range food concept. All natural foods etc. She loved it so much that she went to work for a restaurant specializing in that. Then, as years passed, the 'Gauguin' was born. Aunt Letta's French-Polynesian restaurant and the crack in the family was made solid.

To Sally's great shock, someone has murdered her Aunt. Not only is Sally mourning, but, she learns she is not only the executor of the will, but the new owner of Gauguin. Now, stuck with finding the truth of the murder, she knows it isn't the head Sous Chef, and dealing with the family emotions...Sally needs the reader's help. She did. Honestly.

So, I read this book almost non-stop. It was worth each word. I really loved the plot, the characters, the location and food recipes. I look forward to the next volume.

[Kathy Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sally Solari joined her father in the family's Italian restaurant in Santa Cruz, California, after her mother died of cancer. Sally had been a corporate lawyer but wasn't happy in that career. Unfortunately, she isn't happy running the front of the house for her father either. When her Aunt Letta is murdered, Sally finds herself investigating the crime.

Sally finds that she has inherited the restaurant from her aunt and, if she wants it to survive, she has to find another suspect than her head chef. The police think he makes the perfect suspect. He was the last to see Letta alive and his favorite chef knife was the murder weapon.

Sally uncovers a number of other possible suspects when she begins to look into her aunt's life. Is it her fiance? Is it the old lover who now supplies produce to the restaurant? Is it someone who wants the restaurant to serve responsibly raised meat? The more Sally investigates, the more suspects she uncovers.

I liked Sally and could understand her search for the career that is right for her. I liked her friendship with her ex-boyfriend. I liked the tangled family relationships in the story. And the recipes at the end of the book sound good too.

[Eugene · Rating 3 out of 5]

First of a relatively new series. I’m not usually a fan of these “theme” mysteries (pets/bookstores/cleaning ladies/sewing/scrapbooking and the like), but this looked interesting, even if it does revolve around restaurants and dining. Glad I checked it out. Pretty well written, where the murder remained the focus, not the protagonist’s hobby or personal interest.
Sally Solari’s aunt, owner of a restaurant named Gauguin in Santa Cruz California, is found dead in the kitchen. Not only does Sally learn she inherits the restaurant, she is made aware that the police lean toward arresting the head chef as the perpetrator, a man Sally believes is incapable of such a thing. Solari is quickly enmeshed in trying to operate Gauguin while also continuing to work at her dad’s restaurant, Solari’s, help her family deal with the shock and grief at Aunt Letta’s death, and find the guilty party so as to exonerate her head chef Javier and keep him out of the clink. Yes, a restauranteur with “a lot on her plate.” Author Karst does a nice job with it all, I’ll definitely read the next book for a second helping...

[Margaret Mizushima · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delicious debut! Leslie Karst lays out a smorgasbord of tempting foods, delightful characters, tantalizing setting, and a tangled plot for her readers in this first book in the Sally Solari mystery series. After losing her mother to cancer, Sally leaves her job as an attorney to help her dad run the family business, an old-fashioned Italian eatery in Santa Cruz, California. But she ends up with more pots and pans than she can juggle when a close relative is murdered, she inherits a restaurant, and her chef becomes suspect number one. All this doesn’t slow down the intrepid Sally Solari as she rolls up her sleeves and dives in to whip up irresistible Italian dishes (recipes included) while dredging up clues, following leads, and ultimately solving the case. Karst’s portrayal of this heartwarming Italian family kept me entertained and engaged, and her descriptions of setting and food left me clamoring for seconds! Don’t miss the introduction of this fabulous new cozy mystery series that will leave you DYING FOR A TASTE.

[Homerun2 · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars

Sally Solari was unhappy mired in the world of corporate law and billable hours, so she came home to Santa Cruz after her mother's death to help her dad with the family restaurant, an old-fashioned classic Italian place. She grew close to her Aunt Letta, who was the family rebel and had started a restaurant of her own after travelling the world. So Sally was horrified when Letta is found stabbed to death in her restaurant.

Police arrest Letta's chef Javier since only he and she had keys to the cabinet that held the knife that killed her. But Sally can't believe Javier is guilty, and she sets out to investigate the crime to clear his name. Very nice ensemble cast, including Sally's old-school stubborn Italian father and grandmother, her ex-boyfriend and best friend Eric, and other various friends and restaurant staff.

Nice pacing until a lot of frantic activity at the end but very readable.

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dying for the sequel! I recently found the author through some of my book clubs. I finally reached into my “to be read” pile for this story. I was very pleased to be able to revisit Santa Cruz, one of old stopping grounds from growing up in the Bay Area. Her descriptions of the area were prefect and made me a bit homesick.

Sally, our protagonist, reminded me of a friend I had growing up and her Italian family. The plot was clearly well thought out and there were twists and turns a plenty. As Sally tries to discover who murdered her aunt Letta, she finds herself learning about the restaurant world and the pros, cons, and danger of not serving grass-fed beef, sustainable seafood, and organic produce. I was very impressed with the author’s knowledge in this area and the activists that can cause problems for a restaurant not abiding by their terms. There were quite a few suspects to choose from and I wasn’t completely sure until the end. Great read, and wonderful recipes included!

[Lynda · Rating 2 out of 5]

This novel wasn't bad for the first of a series with likeable characters, a basic murder mystery and interesting side plots but it needed editing. Sally Solari, a former lawyer now manages her father's restaurant. Her ex boyfriend Eric calls Sally to notify her that her Aunt Letta was found dead at another family restaurant Gauguin. Of course Sally tries to solve the crime before the police arrest the head chef Javier. Along the way the reader is introduced to the Slow Food movement as well as environmentally conscious food sourcing. Unfortunately almost every character repeatedly says "I dunno". Dialect is fine if it fits the story and characters but this was overkill especially with college educated lawyers having a conversation. I think I'll skip the next one in the series.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sally Solari’s aunt is murdered in her Santa Cruz restaurant, and Sally doesn’t agree with the local police as to who is the prime suspect—so, she sets out to figure out who the real murderer is. Sally’s sleuthing takes her all around Santa Cruz as well as up to San Francisco and beyond.

Leslie Karst has created a great character in Sally, she describes the California locations and lifestyle well, and it’s fun to follow along on Sally’s adventure. … And I don’t think you’ll guess whodunit.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really really enjoyed this murder mystery based in Santa Cruz, California.

All of the details rang true, and I enjoyed the food descriptions tremendously.

While the premise has been done a lot lately, older relative dies and leave the restaurant to the heroine, I thought the characters were fun and the twists were realistic.

I know my best friend in Los Angeles will want to read this one. Can't wait to tell her about it.

I borrowed a copy from the public library.

[Carmen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in Santa Cruz California, my old stomping grounds, this book is about a young woman who keeps changing her life. First she quits her job as an attorney to help her father run the family business, a restaurant. Then when her aunt is found murdered, she takes over her aunt's restaurant. And she can't help herself, she tries to find out who murdered her aunt.

[Jan Norton · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is my first book by this author and I was excited to start with the first book in the series. It started promising. But it became routine and "preachy" The author had a point of view on what types of food restarunts should buy - slow food movement. She kept pressing her point that I almost gave up.

[Michele · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full disclosure - won this in a giveaway on Goodreads. A good start to a new series. Will read the next book in series.

[Shirley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Recommended to me by a friend. Was okay, but a slow start. But it did keep me guessing on the murderer until the end. Maybe try another? Not sure