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A Sally Solari Mystery #2
A Measure of Murder
Sally Solari is busy juggling work at her family's Italian restaurant, Solari's, and helping Javier plan the autumn menu for the restaurant she's just inherited, Gauguin. Complicating this already hectic schedule, Sally joins her ex-boyfriend Eric's chorus, which is performing a newly discovered version of her favorite the Mozart Requiem . But then, at the first rehearsal, a tenor falls to his death on the church courtyard—and his soprano girlfriend is sure it wasn't an accident.
Now Sally's back on another murder case mixed in with a dash of revenge, a pinch of peril, and a suspicious stack of sheet music. And while tensions in the chorus heat up, so does the kitchen at Gauguin—set aflame right as Sally starts getting too close to the truth. Can Sally catch the killer before she's burnt to a crisp, or will the case grow as cold as yesterday's leftovers?
In a stew of suspects and restaurateurs, trouble boils over in the second in Leslie Karst's tasty and tantalizing Sally Solari mystery series, A Measure of Murder .
Now Sally's back on another murder case mixed in with a dash of revenge, a pinch of peril, and a suspicious stack of sheet music. And while tensions in the chorus heat up, so does the kitchen at Gauguin—set aflame right as Sally starts getting too close to the truth. Can Sally catch the killer before she's burnt to a crisp, or will the case grow as cold as yesterday's leftovers?
In a stew of suspects and restaurateurs, trouble boils over in the second in Leslie Karst's tasty and tantalizing Sally Solari mystery series, A Measure of Murder .
336 pages, Hardcover
Published February 7, 2017
43 people are currently reading
896 people want to read
About the author
Leslie Karst
12 books266 followersLeslie Karst is the Lefty and Macavity Award-nominated author of the Orchid Isle Mysteries, the Sally Solari culinary mysteries; and the IBPA Benjamin Franklin and IPPY award silver medal-winning memoir JUSTICE IS SERVED: A TALE OF SCALLOPS, THE LAW, AND COOKING FOR RBG. After years waiting tables and singing in a new wave rock band, she decided she was ready for a “real” job and ended up at Stanford Law School. It was during her career as an attorney that Leslie rediscovered her youthful passion for food and cooking and once more returned to school—this time to earn a degree in culinary arts. Now retired from the law, in addition to writing, Leslie spends her time cooking, cycling, gardening, and observing cocktail hour promptly at five o’clock. She and her wife and their Jack Russell mix split their time between Hilo, Hawai‘i and Santa Cruz, California.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
February 10, 2017
Dollycas’s Thoughts
As if running the front end of her father’s restaurant and taking over her aunt’s restaurant weren’t enough to keep Sally busy she decides to join a local choir. Granted they are performing one of her favorite pieces and it is just for a few weeks of rehearsals and the performance, but taking it on has both her father and her chef a little freaked out. When one of the choir members falls to his death in the middle of the first rehearsal even Sally starts to wonder if it is all too much. The police rule it as an accident but Sally thinks it was murder and so does the victim’s girlfriend. Sally starts doing a bit of investigating and soon she has several suspects. Does she have a recipe to catch a killer? Maybe if she can stay alive long enough to see if her theory is half baked or fully boiled.
In this second installment of the Sally Solari Mysteries, the author takes us beyond the restaurants and introduces several new characters, members of the choir and its director. At first it seemed like too many characters but she quickly focuses in a few that had interactions with the deceased, but still when added to the characters we already knew at the restaurants, it is a lot to keep track of. Several have back stories that we need to learn to follow how they were involved with the deceased and several are holding things back or have secrets that are yet to be revealed.
The variety of characters leads into the flow of the story which is a little rocky at times. The author needs to find ways for Sally to interact with the her suspects and while one comes to work at one of the restaurants, the rest have to be met before, during or after rehearsals and somehow Sally finds time to go on long bicycle rides with another. It was Sally’s use of time that really tripped things up for me. My parents ran a restaurant, doing so takes tons of time even if you had a competent staff. My parents missed out on so many things in my life because they were tied to that business most of the waking hours each day. Sally deciding to take so much time off for the choir and still have time for bike rides and searching for a murderer would stretch a real person way too thin. But this is fiction, so I just needed to suspend reality for a while.
The mystery was solid and the ending was a bit surprising. There was quite a bit of time spent on the musical part of the theme. We followed Sally through the intense training of learning her part and how it related with other parts of Mozart’s Requiem. Not an easy piece to learn. This was in addition to the things Sally was learning about the restaurant she inherited from her aunt. She wants to learn to cook on the line, she needs to learn about ordering, pricing and menus, she needs to deal with staffing issues at both restaurants. For me the murder part of the plot took a back seat just a little too often.
I really enjoyed the first book in this series better than this one. Sally is a strong character but this time she just was not as engaging. In fact, I was just tired “chasing” around with her. The theme was good but Sally’s life needs a little editing to make it at all believable. One person can only juggle so many things. I hope the author narrows her focus in Sally’s story in upcoming books.
As if running the front end of her father’s restaurant and taking over her aunt’s restaurant weren’t enough to keep Sally busy she decides to join a local choir. Granted they are performing one of her favorite pieces and it is just for a few weeks of rehearsals and the performance, but taking it on has both her father and her chef a little freaked out. When one of the choir members falls to his death in the middle of the first rehearsal even Sally starts to wonder if it is all too much. The police rule it as an accident but Sally thinks it was murder and so does the victim’s girlfriend. Sally starts doing a bit of investigating and soon she has several suspects. Does she have a recipe to catch a killer? Maybe if she can stay alive long enough to see if her theory is half baked or fully boiled.
In this second installment of the Sally Solari Mysteries, the author takes us beyond the restaurants and introduces several new characters, members of the choir and its director. At first it seemed like too many characters but she quickly focuses in a few that had interactions with the deceased, but still when added to the characters we already knew at the restaurants, it is a lot to keep track of. Several have back stories that we need to learn to follow how they were involved with the deceased and several are holding things back or have secrets that are yet to be revealed.
The variety of characters leads into the flow of the story which is a little rocky at times. The author needs to find ways for Sally to interact with the her suspects and while one comes to work at one of the restaurants, the rest have to be met before, during or after rehearsals and somehow Sally finds time to go on long bicycle rides with another. It was Sally’s use of time that really tripped things up for me. My parents ran a restaurant, doing so takes tons of time even if you had a competent staff. My parents missed out on so many things in my life because they were tied to that business most of the waking hours each day. Sally deciding to take so much time off for the choir and still have time for bike rides and searching for a murderer would stretch a real person way too thin. But this is fiction, so I just needed to suspend reality for a while.
The mystery was solid and the ending was a bit surprising. There was quite a bit of time spent on the musical part of the theme. We followed Sally through the intense training of learning her part and how it related with other parts of Mozart’s Requiem. Not an easy piece to learn. This was in addition to the things Sally was learning about the restaurant she inherited from her aunt. She wants to learn to cook on the line, she needs to learn about ordering, pricing and menus, she needs to deal with staffing issues at both restaurants. For me the murder part of the plot took a back seat just a little too often.
I really enjoyed the first book in this series better than this one. Sally is a strong character but this time she just was not as engaging. In fact, I was just tired “chasing” around with her. The theme was good but Sally’s life needs a little editing to make it at all believable. One person can only juggle so many things. I hope the author narrows her focus in Sally’s story in upcoming books.
August 11, 2017
I absolutely enjoyed the first book in the series but this second book was too much classic music for my taste and didn't have much of the restaurant theme I expected. i just couldn't care for it.
The mystery itself was interesting with lots of twists and turns. Great characters (in the beginning so many that it was almost overwhelming) and suspects.
The mystery itself was interesting with lots of twists and turns. Great characters (in the beginning so many that it was almost overwhelming) and suspects.
March 7, 2017
A fun read! Full disclosure: Leslie and I went to high school together and we both played in orchestra. My dad was the high school choir director so when Sally Solari mentions that she got into Madrigals (the top choir) in high school, I hooted with glee.
What can be better than a book with the Mozart Requiem woven through it, choir squabbles and politics, all supported by copious amounts of good food and intrigue?
What can be better than a book with the Mozart Requiem woven through it, choir squabbles and politics, all supported by copious amounts of good food and intrigue?
January 19, 2018
Sally's joined a choral group that will be performing the Mozart piece she always dreamed of singing but somehow in the process, one of the members ends up dead, having fallen out a window in the building they use for rehearsal. Since Sally was formerly a lawyer and got some publicity when she helped solve her Aunt Letta's murder, she gets talked into helping find the killer. Hopefully she won't be the next victim as she gets closer to the truth! Especially after a second body is found.
It was fun visiting with the characters I remembered from the first book. I think Javier and Sally's dad are my favorites even though her dad wasn't in this story a whole lot. A lot of the book dealt with technical language regarding music, singing and composers, which to me wasn't quite so interesting but I was still interested in finding out who the killer was, and it was not the person I was thinking. There were some good twists in the plot as well as a side mystery which was solved and the person responsible decided to do the right thing about it.
I liked that Sally and her dad were coming to a better understanding of what she wants to do. She is still helping at Solari but she really is hoping to ease another woman into her position so she can take on cooking at the restaurant her aunt left her, Gaugin. Her dad seemed much more calm and understanding.
As always, the food mentioned in the book sounds scrumptious and for anyone inclined to try some of the recipes, there are four of them after the book ends.
It was fun visiting with the characters I remembered from the first book. I think Javier and Sally's dad are my favorites even though her dad wasn't in this story a whole lot. A lot of the book dealt with technical language regarding music, singing and composers, which to me wasn't quite so interesting but I was still interested in finding out who the killer was, and it was not the person I was thinking. There were some good twists in the plot as well as a side mystery which was solved and the person responsible decided to do the right thing about it.
I liked that Sally and her dad were coming to a better understanding of what she wants to do. She is still helping at Solari but she really is hoping to ease another woman into her position so she can take on cooking at the restaurant her aunt left her, Gaugin. Her dad seemed much more calm and understanding.
As always, the food mentioned in the book sounds scrumptious and for anyone inclined to try some of the recipes, there are four of them after the book ends.
February 9, 2017
With trying to juggle working at two restaurants, Sally doesn’t have time for anything else in her life, yet when her friend Eric tells her that his community chorus is doing Mozart’s Requiem, she tries out. Kyle, the lead for the tenors, is snarky to everyone at the auditions, but it is a surprise to everyone when his body is found during the first rehearsal. The police think it was an accident, but Sally isn’t so sure. When Kyle’s girlfriend asks Sally to look into it, she starts to find plenty of motives for murder. But was it really murder?
While Sally’s motive for looking into the murder is a little weak, the rest of the book is strong. We get plenty of motives and strong suspects. I thought I had everything figured out early, but by the end I was questioning myself. The returning characters are a lot of fun, especially Sally and Eric, who we got to know even better here.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
While Sally’s motive for looking into the murder is a little weak, the rest of the book is strong. We get plenty of motives and strong suspects. I thought I had everything figured out early, but by the end I was questioning myself. The returning characters are a lot of fun, especially Sally and Eric, who we got to know even better here.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
January 11, 2018
A Measure Of Murder by Leslie Karst is an engaging cosy mystery that is sure to keep you busy trying to figure out the culprit.
I liked the book, it was different from what I usually read and it was really entertaining. The pace was set nicely and was kept constant, one of the reasons I really liked the book. As far as cosy mysteries go, this one proved to be a really good one. The mystery was good and was really brought out by some good twists and turns that kept me guessing the entire time.
I liked the characters and enjoyed reading about them. The writing is good too, so, all in all, it was a nice cosy mystery. I'd recommend it to all mystery lovers, especially who like low-key ones.
I'd like to make a note here that I have not read the first part of this series, though it hardly felt like it because the story read like a stand-alone.
I liked the book, it was different from what I usually read and it was really entertaining. The pace was set nicely and was kept constant, one of the reasons I really liked the book. As far as cosy mysteries go, this one proved to be a really good one. The mystery was good and was really brought out by some good twists and turns that kept me guessing the entire time.
I liked the characters and enjoyed reading about them. The writing is good too, so, all in all, it was a nice cosy mystery. I'd recommend it to all mystery lovers, especially who like low-key ones.
I'd like to make a note here that I have not read the first part of this series, though it hardly felt like it because the story read like a stand-alone.
February 25, 2020
When restaurateur Sally Solari gets a chance to join a choir to sing her beloved Requiem, Mozart's unfinished symphony she jumps at the chance. However, she is concerned that it will be hard to juggle weekly rehearsals and managing two restaurants. When one of the choir members has an unfortunate "accident" she can't help but get involved against her better judgement. It was fun reading about familiar places in Santa Cruz and I have some new places to check out. It also inspired me to listen to Mozart's Requiem and I understand why they needed so many rehearsals. Oh, and the mystery and characters are engaging and entertaining. I'm looking forward to reading more in this series.
December 24, 2021
This is another book where my enjoyment is no surprise. It starts with a main character who's an attorney-turned-restauranteur. Next comes her decision to join a local chorus that's planning to perform Mozart's Requiem -- so there's music! Add to that a well-plotted and paced mystery and this book helped me enjoy every moment of my first week back from NYC! Yet again, I'm looking forward to reading the next in this series.
November 7, 2018
2nd in the series, here restauranteur and amateur sleuth Sally Solari joins a choral group and it isn’t long before lead tenor Kyle plunges to his death from an upstairs window at the rehearsal hall. The police classify it as an accident, but Sally isn’t so sure...and then another body is found. Relatively light (tone and plot), but it moves along and is a diverting read.
August 11, 2018
Another fun ride with Sally Solari! She's fun and the other recurring characters make you feel like part of the family!
August 19, 2019
A quick, easy, cozy mystery. Not great, but not terrible. The parts about music were really interesting to me.
April 16, 2017
"That would explain the position his body landed in."
Returning the phone to his pocket, Detective Vargas slowly shook his head. He made no attempt to hide the smirk my theory had elicited. "Not every death is a murder, you know. Don't you think a far simpler explanation might be that he just spun around as he fell?"
"Yeah, but—"
"Look, I appreciate your concern, Ms. Solari, but I think it's best that you just let us handle this. Of course, if you come across any actual information, I'd be happy to hear about it."
Right, I thought as he turned to walk inside the church hall. Like I believe that.
****************
Staking out her corner of the reader-rich turf that is the cozy mystery genre, writer Leslie Karst has offered up the second in an ongoing series of Sally Solari Mysteries, entitled "A Measure of Murder." As tends to be true of this popular genre, Karst downplays any graphic violence and her protagonist/sleuth is no police detective. She's the feisty Sally Solari—amateur singer and professional food manager.
All of Karst's savvy signatures are in place here: the book comes with plenty of restaurant insider ambience, and a handful of mouthwatering recipes as well. But of course, the name of the game is murder!
Karst, a former attorney with a culinary degree, knows her way around a generous pinch of clues, well-seasoned tension, and the necessary spice of a few red herrings. Her protagonist, Solari, is a restaurateur in transition, juggling the management of an old school Italian restaurant on the Santa Cruz wharf with employee issues at the contemporary bistro she inherited from her late grandmother. As with Karst's first mystery, "Dying for a Taste," this book begins with a sudden and problematic death—the tenor of a renowned local choir that Solari sings with appears to have fallen to his death from a window during the rehearsal for the Mozart "Requiem." Unlike the first book, this one wanders into non-restaurant territory, highlighting behind-the-scenes of arduous rehearsals and the egos involved.
Who wants the tenor dead? Is it the ex-girlfriend who stands to inherit a much-needed house and fortune? Is it the jealous alto who knows about the tenor's extra-curricular dalliance with the choir director? Is it the choir director herself who has discovered a missing section of Mozart's last musical work, a discovery made under murky circumstances?
Well, Karst knows her genre, and plants clue after clue in between restaurant banter, musical details, and plenty of local Coastal California attractions that whiz past Solari on her arduous bike rides.
Purists might kvetch that for a woman with two restaurants to supervise, Solari does a whole lot of cocktails, weekend cycling, rehearsing for an upcoming musical performance, and hanging out with colorful friends. Some of this action-packed lifestyle might stretch credulity, but hey, this is fiction after all. [And since I was one of the singers in the Mozart "Requiem" performance that forms the centerpiece of this book, I have to admit I took more than my fair share of pleasure in recalling the details Karst includes.]
Karst does a fine job balancing Solari's own sleuthing about the tenor's death, her interrogations of a key witness disguised as innocent cycling dates, rehearsal details that will please musicians among her readership, and juicy back-stories about the restaurant biz. An upbeat and probing first-person voice moves the reader along Solari's restless investigating—Karst has created an appealing and accessible character to lead the reader through the action.
And while a more traditional murder mystery—one with some expletives, blood, and sex—might be more to my fancy, Karst's second book is sure to fire the rockets of her many cozy mystery fans. For those more interested in ambience and clues, than in the sordid underbelly of the criminal mind, "A Measure of Murder" will more than fit the bill. These pages move quickly!
Returning the phone to his pocket, Detective Vargas slowly shook his head. He made no attempt to hide the smirk my theory had elicited. "Not every death is a murder, you know. Don't you think a far simpler explanation might be that he just spun around as he fell?"
"Yeah, but—"
"Look, I appreciate your concern, Ms. Solari, but I think it's best that you just let us handle this. Of course, if you come across any actual information, I'd be happy to hear about it."
Right, I thought as he turned to walk inside the church hall. Like I believe that.
****************
Staking out her corner of the reader-rich turf that is the cozy mystery genre, writer Leslie Karst has offered up the second in an ongoing series of Sally Solari Mysteries, entitled "A Measure of Murder." As tends to be true of this popular genre, Karst downplays any graphic violence and her protagonist/sleuth is no police detective. She's the feisty Sally Solari—amateur singer and professional food manager.
All of Karst's savvy signatures are in place here: the book comes with plenty of restaurant insider ambience, and a handful of mouthwatering recipes as well. But of course, the name of the game is murder!
Karst, a former attorney with a culinary degree, knows her way around a generous pinch of clues, well-seasoned tension, and the necessary spice of a few red herrings. Her protagonist, Solari, is a restaurateur in transition, juggling the management of an old school Italian restaurant on the Santa Cruz wharf with employee issues at the contemporary bistro she inherited from her late grandmother. As with Karst's first mystery, "Dying for a Taste," this book begins with a sudden and problematic death—the tenor of a renowned local choir that Solari sings with appears to have fallen to his death from a window during the rehearsal for the Mozart "Requiem." Unlike the first book, this one wanders into non-restaurant territory, highlighting behind-the-scenes of arduous rehearsals and the egos involved.
Who wants the tenor dead? Is it the ex-girlfriend who stands to inherit a much-needed house and fortune? Is it the jealous alto who knows about the tenor's extra-curricular dalliance with the choir director? Is it the choir director herself who has discovered a missing section of Mozart's last musical work, a discovery made under murky circumstances?
Well, Karst knows her genre, and plants clue after clue in between restaurant banter, musical details, and plenty of local Coastal California attractions that whiz past Solari on her arduous bike rides.
Purists might kvetch that for a woman with two restaurants to supervise, Solari does a whole lot of cocktails, weekend cycling, rehearsing for an upcoming musical performance, and hanging out with colorful friends. Some of this action-packed lifestyle might stretch credulity, but hey, this is fiction after all. [And since I was one of the singers in the Mozart "Requiem" performance that forms the centerpiece of this book, I have to admit I took more than my fair share of pleasure in recalling the details Karst includes.]
Karst does a fine job balancing Solari's own sleuthing about the tenor's death, her interrogations of a key witness disguised as innocent cycling dates, rehearsal details that will please musicians among her readership, and juicy back-stories about the restaurant biz. An upbeat and probing first-person voice moves the reader along Solari's restless investigating—Karst has created an appealing and accessible character to lead the reader through the action.
And while a more traditional murder mystery—one with some expletives, blood, and sex—might be more to my fancy, Karst's second book is sure to fire the rockets of her many cozy mystery fans. For those more interested in ambience and clues, than in the sordid underbelly of the criminal mind, "A Measure of Murder" will more than fit the bill. These pages move quickly!
February 21, 2017
I was happy when A MEASURE OF MURDER, the second book in Sally Solari Mystery series, by Leslie Karst was released earlier this month. I’ve been looking forward to it for several months and I found this to be a nice addition to the series. Leslie combines a clever murder mystery (even the police think it’s a tragic accident) with a tenacious restaurateur, and inspiring music. Sally Solari is a very energetic protagonist…I wish I had half of her energy! But despite how much she’s involved in, Sally finds time for her family and friends while creating new friendships, showing she is a very caring person. The characters surrounding and supporting Sally add to the appeal of the book. The murder plot provides plenty of viable suspects to keep the reader guessing but interspersed in the plot is a lot of detailed information about performing in a choral performance of Mozart’s Requiem. I found it interesting (I enjoy learning new things while reading cozy mysteries) and it inspired me to search out a YouTube video of this classical piece. The author brings a passion for music and how it speaks to your soul to her book.
With Sally owning her own restaurant and working in her family’s Italian restaurant, A MEASURE OF MURDER has many mouthwatering mentions of delectable dishes! Fortunately for the reader, Leslie includes several recipes at the back of her book. I tried her recipe for Grilled Salmon with Papaya and Avocado Pico de Gallo and it was every bit as delicious as it was beautiful!
I willingly reviewed this book after receiving a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
With Sally owning her own restaurant and working in her family’s Italian restaurant, A MEASURE OF MURDER has many mouthwatering mentions of delectable dishes! Fortunately for the reader, Leslie includes several recipes at the back of her book. I tried her recipe for Grilled Salmon with Papaya and Avocado Pico de Gallo and it was every bit as delicious as it was beautiful!
I willingly reviewed this book after receiving a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
February 12, 2017
A Measure of Murder by Leslie Karst is the second book in A Sally Solari Mystery series. Sally Solari owns Gauguin, a restaurant that she inherited from her aunt. Sally is also still managing the family restaurant, Solari’s (but she is training someone to take over her duties). But when Sally hears that the Santa Cruz Community Chorus is going to be perform Mozart Requiem (with a newly discovered piece written by Sussmayr), she knows she has to audition. Sally has wanted to do this musical piece since high school. Sally is accepted into the choir and it will be an intense three weeks of rehearsals (three a week). At the first rehearsal, just after the intermission, a woman bursts into the church where they practice. The woman has found a man hurt in the courtyard. Everyone runs out, but it is too late. The dead man is Kyle, the cantankerous section leader of the tenors. The police rule it an accident, but Sally is not convinced. It turns out that Kyle’s girlfriend, Jill, is of a similar mind. Jill asks Sally to look into Kyle’s death (Sally’s reputation proceeds her). Sally starts digging around, but the investigation is fraught with danger. Will Sally be able to uncover the truth or end up in hot water?
A Measure of Murder is a very busy book. I am not sure how Sally managed to get all her tasks accomplished. Sally was working at Solari’s and Gauguin, learning to cook on the line at Gauguin, working on the new fall menu for Gauguin (and all that it entails), rehearsals for the choir, investigating the murder, watching the Tour de France, having drinks with friends, information on Mozart Requiem and cycling. Normally running one restaurant is a time-consuming endeavor. There is just no way that one person could do all these tasks and find time to sleep. I was tired just reading about all her activities. These various tasks slowed down the pace of the book. I hope the author cuts back on Sally’s activities in future books in the series (to make it more believable). There are many characters in A Measure of Murder and it can be confusing (especially in the first part of the book). There are the restaurant workers, the chorus, ex-boyfriend, best friend, and people Sally questions as part of her investigation. I liked the mystery that the author crafted, but I was able to puzzle out the killer before I was halfway through the novel. If you do not read a lot of mysteries, the killer may come as a surprise. I give A Measure of Murder 3 out of 5 stars. While A Measure of Murder is the second book in the series, it can be read as a stand-alone. The author provides information from the first novel and background details on Sally. I wished the author had put the murder in the forefront of A Measure of Murder. It took a backseat (maybe even further back than the backseat) to everything else going on in the book (especially the chorus). I preferred Dying for a Taste (first book in the series) more than A Measure of Murder.
A Measure of Murder is a very busy book. I am not sure how Sally managed to get all her tasks accomplished. Sally was working at Solari’s and Gauguin, learning to cook on the line at Gauguin, working on the new fall menu for Gauguin (and all that it entails), rehearsals for the choir, investigating the murder, watching the Tour de France, having drinks with friends, information on Mozart Requiem and cycling. Normally running one restaurant is a time-consuming endeavor. There is just no way that one person could do all these tasks and find time to sleep. I was tired just reading about all her activities. These various tasks slowed down the pace of the book. I hope the author cuts back on Sally’s activities in future books in the series (to make it more believable). There are many characters in A Measure of Murder and it can be confusing (especially in the first part of the book). There are the restaurant workers, the chorus, ex-boyfriend, best friend, and people Sally questions as part of her investigation. I liked the mystery that the author crafted, but I was able to puzzle out the killer before I was halfway through the novel. If you do not read a lot of mysteries, the killer may come as a surprise. I give A Measure of Murder 3 out of 5 stars. While A Measure of Murder is the second book in the series, it can be read as a stand-alone. The author provides information from the first novel and background details on Sally. I wished the author had put the murder in the forefront of A Measure of Murder. It took a backseat (maybe even further back than the backseat) to everything else going on in the book (especially the chorus). I preferred Dying for a Taste (first book in the series) more than A Measure of Murder.
August 16, 2018
It looks like this book is dedicated to the author’s passions of singing in a chorus, cooking, and cycling, and the murder mystery is an afterthought with enough material for a story, not a book. It feels like sixty percent of the book has very technical information about how to read or write music, a lot of historical background information about Mozart’s Requiem, and way too much tedious technical information that sounds like written for or by a classically trained musician. (“And I don’t want all these loose Ts that I am hearing in the “et lux perpetua.’ You need to wait and put the T with the ‘lux.’ Remember, it’s all about diction. We don’t sing words-we sing consonants a vowel shapes. Repeat after me: eeh-e-lux.” “Musicologists have long lamented that this abbreviated Amen section demonstrates the weakness of Sussmayr’s endings compared to what Mozart might have done if he had only had the chance to do so.” ) And there are the sections about different aspects of restaurant management, cooking techniques to the smallest details, and French terminology for even pots and pans. (The instructions for making béarnaise sauce alone is four pages long.) After reading some name dropping about custom made $10,000 bicycles, Tour of France, and designer clothes for bicycling, I was confused as to what this book is supposed to be about.
March 18, 2019
Sally is already doing double duty by working in her family's restaurant and now running her recently deceased aunt's restaurant Then when she had the opportunity to join a choir production of The Mozart Requiem she could not resist. But during a rehearsal a much disliked choir member, Kyle, was found dead after falling out of a window. The police think it was an accident but Kyle's girlfriend and Sally both think it was murder.
This is the second story in A Sally Solari Mystery series. It has a good story line with relatable characters. Unless you are a choir music enthusiast, it does go a little too heavy with the music terminology.
This is the second story in A Sally Solari Mystery series. It has a good story line with relatable characters. Unless you are a choir music enthusiast, it does go a little too heavy with the music terminology.
January 26, 2018
http://openbooksociety.com/article/a-...
A Measure of Murder
A Sally Solari Mystery
By Leslie Karst
ISBN: 9781683310181
Author’s Website: www(.)lesliekarstauthor(.)com
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra
Summary
Sally Solari is busy juggling work at her family’s Italian restaurant, Solari’s, and helping Javier plan the autumn menu for the restaurant she’s just inherited, Gauguin. Complicating this already hectic schedule, Sally joins her ex-boyfriend Eric’s chorus, which is performing a newly discovered version of her favorite composition: The Mozart Requiem. But then, at the first rehearsal, a tenor falls to his death on the church courtyard–and his soprano girlfriend is sure it wasn’t an accident.
Now Sally’s back on another murder case mixed in with a dash of revenge, a pinch of peril, and a suspicious stack of sheet music. And while tensions in the chorus heat up, so does the kitchen at Gauguin–set aflame right as Sally starts getting too close to the truth. Can Sally catch the killer before she’s burnt to a crisp, or will the case grow as cold as yesterday’s leftovers?
In a stew of suspects and restaurateurs, trouble boils over in the second in Leslie Karst’s tasty and tantalizing Sally Solari mystery series, A Measure of Murder.
Review
My first foray into the writing of Leslie Karst was a fun and enjoyable jaunt. With characters like Sally Solari and her innate inquisitiveness, how could one not enjoy the journey? One aspect I really enjoyed was that the story had many offshoots, which kept this reader intrigued and guessing throughout the story as to whodunit.
Sally Solari is a woman who obviously likes to keep busy. In addition to working at her father’s restaurant – Solari’s (bin her defence she is training a replacement to run the front of the house), she is learning the intricacies of the restaurant she inherited from her aunt – ‘Gauguin’. And now Sally has joined her ex-beau (Eric’s) choir. Lo and behold, during one choir rehearsal, a death occurs – a tenor turns up dead. While the police have ruled it as an accident, the girlfriend (also a member of the choir – a soprano) insists that it is not. She seeks out Sally to see if she can help her prove that it really was no accident.
There is no shortage of characters in this book. As there were so many, I had to actually write names down until the field of possible suspects was narrowed down a bit as it was a tad confusing to keep everyone straight.
The humorous side of a cozy mystery definitely came out and had me chuckling numerous times. I quite enjoyed the reference to Miss Marple:
“Eric eyeballed me and then shook his head with a laugh. ‘I’m not going to be able to talk you out of this, am I? Now that you’ve gotten a taste for it, playing Miss Marple and solving crimes around out little town.”
I loved some of the descriptions surrounding the restaurant and food preparation had my mouth watering:
“You’ll want to let that reduce down to just a tablespoon or so. Au Sec, it’s called.” Javier peered over my shoulder at the mixture of white wine vinegar, cracked peppercorns, fresh tarragon, and chopped shallots simmering in the saucepan. It was late Friday afternoon, and as promised, he was showing me some of the hot line basics.”
“The ratio for a hollandaise -or in this case, its derivative sauce, béarnaise-is two pounds of butter, which is what this will end up being after it’s been clarified, to a dozen egg yolks.”
The other adjacent story-lines were interesting and definitely added depth to the story…at times adding maybe some red herrings? But truth be told, without the ‘Mozart’s Requiem’ story-line of how it came to be in the hands of Marta (choir director), I might have lost interest.
I am tempted to go back and read book one of the series “Dying for a Taste” to see if following Sally from the beginning will give me a better sense of the character as a sleuth in addition to her as, well, her.
I think there is great potential in this series and as such look forward to reading more of Leslie Karst’s writing in the future. Now off to cook an Italian meal – this book certainly wet my appetite!
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*
A Measure of Murder
A Sally Solari Mystery
By Leslie Karst
ISBN: 9781683310181
Author’s Website: www(.)lesliekarstauthor(.)com
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra
Summary
Sally Solari is busy juggling work at her family’s Italian restaurant, Solari’s, and helping Javier plan the autumn menu for the restaurant she’s just inherited, Gauguin. Complicating this already hectic schedule, Sally joins her ex-boyfriend Eric’s chorus, which is performing a newly discovered version of her favorite composition: The Mozart Requiem. But then, at the first rehearsal, a tenor falls to his death on the church courtyard–and his soprano girlfriend is sure it wasn’t an accident.
Now Sally’s back on another murder case mixed in with a dash of revenge, a pinch of peril, and a suspicious stack of sheet music. And while tensions in the chorus heat up, so does the kitchen at Gauguin–set aflame right as Sally starts getting too close to the truth. Can Sally catch the killer before she’s burnt to a crisp, or will the case grow as cold as yesterday’s leftovers?
In a stew of suspects and restaurateurs, trouble boils over in the second in Leslie Karst’s tasty and tantalizing Sally Solari mystery series, A Measure of Murder.
Review
My first foray into the writing of Leslie Karst was a fun and enjoyable jaunt. With characters like Sally Solari and her innate inquisitiveness, how could one not enjoy the journey? One aspect I really enjoyed was that the story had many offshoots, which kept this reader intrigued and guessing throughout the story as to whodunit.
Sally Solari is a woman who obviously likes to keep busy. In addition to working at her father’s restaurant – Solari’s (bin her defence she is training a replacement to run the front of the house), she is learning the intricacies of the restaurant she inherited from her aunt – ‘Gauguin’. And now Sally has joined her ex-beau (Eric’s) choir. Lo and behold, during one choir rehearsal, a death occurs – a tenor turns up dead. While the police have ruled it as an accident, the girlfriend (also a member of the choir – a soprano) insists that it is not. She seeks out Sally to see if she can help her prove that it really was no accident.
There is no shortage of characters in this book. As there were so many, I had to actually write names down until the field of possible suspects was narrowed down a bit as it was a tad confusing to keep everyone straight.
The humorous side of a cozy mystery definitely came out and had me chuckling numerous times. I quite enjoyed the reference to Miss Marple:
“Eric eyeballed me and then shook his head with a laugh. ‘I’m not going to be able to talk you out of this, am I? Now that you’ve gotten a taste for it, playing Miss Marple and solving crimes around out little town.”
I loved some of the descriptions surrounding the restaurant and food preparation had my mouth watering:
“You’ll want to let that reduce down to just a tablespoon or so. Au Sec, it’s called.” Javier peered over my shoulder at the mixture of white wine vinegar, cracked peppercorns, fresh tarragon, and chopped shallots simmering in the saucepan. It was late Friday afternoon, and as promised, he was showing me some of the hot line basics.”
“The ratio for a hollandaise -or in this case, its derivative sauce, béarnaise-is two pounds of butter, which is what this will end up being after it’s been clarified, to a dozen egg yolks.”
The other adjacent story-lines were interesting and definitely added depth to the story…at times adding maybe some red herrings? But truth be told, without the ‘Mozart’s Requiem’ story-line of how it came to be in the hands of Marta (choir director), I might have lost interest.
I am tempted to go back and read book one of the series “Dying for a Taste” to see if following Sally from the beginning will give me a better sense of the character as a sleuth in addition to her as, well, her.
I think there is great potential in this series and as such look forward to reading more of Leslie Karst’s writing in the future. Now off to cook an Italian meal – this book certainly wet my appetite!
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*
September 2, 2017
Sally Solari has more on her plate than the delicious meals she is serving at Gauguin, the restaurant she recently inherited. Her schedule is full with the management of Gauguin. She is also helping her father at Solari’s, the restaurant her family has owned for years. Sally is slowly trying to find a replacement for herself so she can focus more on Gauguin, but her father is resisting her efforts. He is sure no one can take his daughter’s place in their family’s Italian restaurant.
Even though Sally loves the restaurant business, she decides to carve out a bit of her precious free time to do something for herself. Deciding she will spend some of the precious few hours of her free time by joining a local chorus that needs members.
Like any social group, the choir has personality conflicts, but overall they are a great bunch of dedicated vocalists that enjoy each other and their craft. The director has found fame with the discovery of some sheet music by a famous composer making the pull to be a part of the choir more desirable. Unfortunately their first rehearsal ends in tragedy. One of the tenors falls to his death. His girlfriend seeks out Sally and asks her to investigate the accident because she is sure it was murder.
The police have closed the case, but Sally agrees to switch her chef’s hat for a deerstalker a la Sherlock Holmes because she doesn’t think the evidence adds up to an accident. That means that one of the members of her choir could be a murderer. Let’s all hope Sally isn’t the next victim.
Karst writes a meaty cozy mystery. Her characters are strong, multi-faceted and interesting. Sally juggles her career and personal life just as most of us. She loves the restaurant business, her family and friends. It is refreshing to read a cozy mystery without the main character being a bit ditzy. Her father and grandmother enforce the family values she believes in as well as adding humor to the story.
The plot is interesting and solid. There are several suspects, all of them likely killers. As Sally quietly works the case in her spare time, the motives are varied and believable I was convinced I knew who the killer was until a new theory was introduced that was as likely as the previous one making me change my mind in an instant.
A Measure of Murder is the second Sally Solari Mystery by Leslie Karst. It is the first one I have read, but it worked well as a stand-alone novel. That being said, I enjoyed it so much I plan to read the first in this series, Dying for a Taste. It was really a sweet treat to get to the end of the book and see that some of the delicious recipes discussed in the novel were in the final pages. All of them look delectable. I can’t wait to try the Grilled Salmon with Papaya and Avocado Pico de Gallo.
DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: I have a material connection because I received a review copy that I can keep for consideration in preparing to write this content. I was not expected to return this item after my review. Copyright © 2017 Laura Hartman
Even though Sally loves the restaurant business, she decides to carve out a bit of her precious free time to do something for herself. Deciding she will spend some of the precious few hours of her free time by joining a local chorus that needs members.
Like any social group, the choir has personality conflicts, but overall they are a great bunch of dedicated vocalists that enjoy each other and their craft. The director has found fame with the discovery of some sheet music by a famous composer making the pull to be a part of the choir more desirable. Unfortunately their first rehearsal ends in tragedy. One of the tenors falls to his death. His girlfriend seeks out Sally and asks her to investigate the accident because she is sure it was murder.
The police have closed the case, but Sally agrees to switch her chef’s hat for a deerstalker a la Sherlock Holmes because she doesn’t think the evidence adds up to an accident. That means that one of the members of her choir could be a murderer. Let’s all hope Sally isn’t the next victim.
Karst writes a meaty cozy mystery. Her characters are strong, multi-faceted and interesting. Sally juggles her career and personal life just as most of us. She loves the restaurant business, her family and friends. It is refreshing to read a cozy mystery without the main character being a bit ditzy. Her father and grandmother enforce the family values she believes in as well as adding humor to the story.
The plot is interesting and solid. There are several suspects, all of them likely killers. As Sally quietly works the case in her spare time, the motives are varied and believable I was convinced I knew who the killer was until a new theory was introduced that was as likely as the previous one making me change my mind in an instant.
A Measure of Murder is the second Sally Solari Mystery by Leslie Karst. It is the first one I have read, but it worked well as a stand-alone novel. That being said, I enjoyed it so much I plan to read the first in this series, Dying for a Taste. It was really a sweet treat to get to the end of the book and see that some of the delicious recipes discussed in the novel were in the final pages. All of them look delectable. I can’t wait to try the Grilled Salmon with Papaya and Avocado Pico de Gallo.
DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: I have a material connection because I received a review copy that I can keep for consideration in preparing to write this content. I was not expected to return this item after my review. Copyright © 2017 Laura Hartman
January 8, 2019
A Measure of Murder
Another cozy mystery that has cooking as a subplot! I love it! And it’s got great humor. And well written.
Sally tries out for a chorus her good friend Eric is in. Plus she runs her own restaurant and helps with her dad’s. And solves murders. THE SPAGHETTI CARBONARA RECIPE included was very good!
The Characters
Sally is a woman going through what most women of middle age go through. Leslie Karst was smart and didn’t just mention it, it is part of her character.
I liked the interaction between Sally and her ex boyfriend Eric. After the breakup they because real friends. That can be normal, but no one writes about this event. I love this.
The characters are thought out and shown in full regalia. It was interesting that Leslie Karst tried to show flaws in all her characters. Some authors just gloss over them, or have cookie cutter characters with no backbone or personality. Not in this book! But there were so many small characters (at least IMHO), that I had a bit of trouble keeping them straight. And I had trouble picturing the characters’ descriptions because of the number of people in the book. But that’s just me.
The Setting Descriptions
The setting descriptions were awesome. I liked the setting descriptions of individual scenes. But no overall Santa Cruz description. Could this be done without ruining the flow? I don’t know.
The Dialogue
But the banter was quite fun, and one could get the gist of how the characters interacted with each other in their head and hearts by how the dialogue went.
The Pace
The pace was quick but breathable. Leslie Karst did good on this rhythm of breaking things up so you have tension and release.
I didn’t want to skip over the setting descriptions, they were just the right size. The music seemed a bit overwhelming for someone who doesn’t know about being in a music setting.
The Plot
When the murder happened, I did what I always do. I guessed the murderer right, but that was a total guess, just for fun. I didn’t have an knowledge, science, or anything why, I just picked someone. Each suspect gave good reasoning and other clues to make me second guess on my gut reaction. That is very good! In other words, unless you’ve read every mystery on the planet, it’s not scientifically obvious who the killer was. And no loose endings, so you don’t feel cheated. Way to go, Leslie Karst!
Another cozy mystery that has cooking as a subplot! I love it! And it’s got great humor. And well written.
Sally tries out for a chorus her good friend Eric is in. Plus she runs her own restaurant and helps with her dad’s. And solves murders. THE SPAGHETTI CARBONARA RECIPE included was very good!
The Characters
Sally is a woman going through what most women of middle age go through. Leslie Karst was smart and didn’t just mention it, it is part of her character.
I liked the interaction between Sally and her ex boyfriend Eric. After the breakup they because real friends. That can be normal, but no one writes about this event. I love this.
The characters are thought out and shown in full regalia. It was interesting that Leslie Karst tried to show flaws in all her characters. Some authors just gloss over them, or have cookie cutter characters with no backbone or personality. Not in this book! But there were so many small characters (at least IMHO), that I had a bit of trouble keeping them straight. And I had trouble picturing the characters’ descriptions because of the number of people in the book. But that’s just me.
The Setting Descriptions
The setting descriptions were awesome. I liked the setting descriptions of individual scenes. But no overall Santa Cruz description. Could this be done without ruining the flow? I don’t know.
The Dialogue
But the banter was quite fun, and one could get the gist of how the characters interacted with each other in their head and hearts by how the dialogue went.
The Pace
The pace was quick but breathable. Leslie Karst did good on this rhythm of breaking things up so you have tension and release.
I didn’t want to skip over the setting descriptions, they were just the right size. The music seemed a bit overwhelming for someone who doesn’t know about being in a music setting.
The Plot
When the murder happened, I did what I always do. I guessed the murderer right, but that was a total guess, just for fun. I didn’t have an knowledge, science, or anything why, I just picked someone. Each suspect gave good reasoning and other clues to make me second guess on my gut reaction. That is very good! In other words, unless you’ve read every mystery on the planet, it’s not scientifically obvious who the killer was. And no loose endings, so you don’t feel cheated. Way to go, Leslie Karst!
March 12, 2018
In, A Measure of Murder, author Leslie Karst convincingly writes about what she knows. Karst writes about murder and for twenty years she worked as a research and appellate attorney. She certainly has an interest in cooking, cycling and singing alto in the local community chorus, all of which Sally Solari shares. A Measure of Murder, is the second offering in the Sally Solari Mystery series, the first being, Dying for a Taste.
The beginning of this book finds Sally at an audition for an alto spot in the Santa Cruz Community Chorus, for a performance of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s final masterpiece, Requiem. Written in 1791, when Mozart was 35 years old, he died before its completion. His student, Franz Xaver Süssmayr, finished the Mass later.
Sally is successful in her bid for a spot in the chorus, but at the first rehearsal, a chorus member falls/is pushed to his death from the second floor of the church hall. So now, in addition to Sally’s work at a restaurant, Gauguin, (an upscale restaurant she’s recently inherited from her murdered aunt), as well as her father’s Italian restaurant, Solari’s, where she runs the front of the house, Sally is asked by the deceased man’s girlfriend to look into the circumstances around the death.
An illegal will, money for a stolen version of the Mozart “Requiem,” a jealous lover, a St. Christopher metal and a discarded throat lozenge wrapper, all give Sally clues as to who might have killed Kyle Van Dyke. Between work, rehearsal, bike rides with Marta, the choral director, and watching the Tour de France, she follows unexpected twists and turns to the finish.
Karst includes some appended recipes at the end of the book, such as, Grilled Cheese Sandwich With Spinach and Red Onions, which Sally enjoys in the book. This book should fill your hunger for mystery, gourmet food and details of Mozart’s musical masterpiece, Requiem. Bon Appetit!
The beginning of this book finds Sally at an audition for an alto spot in the Santa Cruz Community Chorus, for a performance of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s final masterpiece, Requiem. Written in 1791, when Mozart was 35 years old, he died before its completion. His student, Franz Xaver Süssmayr, finished the Mass later.
Sally is successful in her bid for a spot in the chorus, but at the first rehearsal, a chorus member falls/is pushed to his death from the second floor of the church hall. So now, in addition to Sally’s work at a restaurant, Gauguin, (an upscale restaurant she’s recently inherited from her murdered aunt), as well as her father’s Italian restaurant, Solari’s, where she runs the front of the house, Sally is asked by the deceased man’s girlfriend to look into the circumstances around the death.
An illegal will, money for a stolen version of the Mozart “Requiem,” a jealous lover, a St. Christopher metal and a discarded throat lozenge wrapper, all give Sally clues as to who might have killed Kyle Van Dyke. Between work, rehearsal, bike rides with Marta, the choral director, and watching the Tour de France, she follows unexpected twists and turns to the finish.
Karst includes some appended recipes at the end of the book, such as, Grilled Cheese Sandwich With Spinach and Red Onions, which Sally enjoys in the book. This book should fill your hunger for mystery, gourmet food and details of Mozart’s musical masterpiece, Requiem. Bon Appetit!
July 19, 2017
Title: A Measure of Murder - Sally Solari Mystery Book 2
Author: Leslie Karst
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Published: 2-7-2017
Pages: 336
Genre: Mystery, Thrillers & Suspense
Sub-Genre: Amateur Sleuths; Cozy Mystery; Women's Sleuths
ISBN: 9781683310181
ASIN: B01KGD6JWS
Reviewed For NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books
Reviewer: DelAnne
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Sally Solari, restaurant manager/owner/operator and amatuer sleuth has joined the choir. When a supposed accident claims the life of one of the choir members. Sally is sure it was muder and sets out to investigate.
As the second book in the series is is always good to read the previous books for background, "A Measure of Murder" can be read as a stand alone with little difficulty. Sally as usual is an interesting impulsive, character. The story moves at a steady pace and is well layered out and flows smoothly. This is a fun read and contains recipes for readers to try.
My rating of "A Measure of Murder - Sally Solari Mystery Book 2" is 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KGD6JWS/...
B&N Link: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-me...
Books-A-Million Link: http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Measur...
Kobo Link: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/a-me...
GoodReads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
The Reading Room Link: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.ph...
Twitter Link: https://twitter.com/DelAnne531/status...
Author: Leslie Karst
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Published: 2-7-2017
Pages: 336
Genre: Mystery, Thrillers & Suspense
Sub-Genre: Amateur Sleuths; Cozy Mystery; Women's Sleuths
ISBN: 9781683310181
ASIN: B01KGD6JWS
Reviewed For NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books
Reviewer: DelAnne
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Sally Solari, restaurant manager/owner/operator and amatuer sleuth has joined the choir. When a supposed accident claims the life of one of the choir members. Sally is sure it was muder and sets out to investigate.
As the second book in the series is is always good to read the previous books for background, "A Measure of Murder" can be read as a stand alone with little difficulty. Sally as usual is an interesting impulsive, character. The story moves at a steady pace and is well layered out and flows smoothly. This is a fun read and contains recipes for readers to try.
My rating of "A Measure of Murder - Sally Solari Mystery Book 2" is 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KGD6JWS/...
B&N Link: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-me...
Books-A-Million Link: http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Measur...
Kobo Link: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/a-me...
GoodReads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
The Reading Room Link: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.ph...
Twitter Link: https://twitter.com/DelAnne531/status...
September 18, 2017
A Measure of Murder by Leslie Karst is the second book in the Sally Solari mystery series. Sally's life is busy as she juggles working at her family's restaurant and helping run the restaurant she inherited from her aunt which is planning a new menu for Autumn. She couldn't possibly have time for anything else, except auditioning to join her ex-boyfriend's chorus. The excitement is short lived when a tenor falls out the window, and his girlfriend turns to Sally for help determining if it was murder. She gathers a list of suspects, and digs for the truth, but what she learns may make her the next victim.
Leslie Karst has a down to earth style, with a strong voice in Sally who is smart, witty, and stubborn, with a fiery personality and a thorough attention to detail. These details make it easy to sleuth with her, getting as caught up in the mystery as she is. In an interesting move for a sleuthing mystery, the cop connection has very little to do with Sally's investigation, with the cop only appearing for a few scenes. The sleuthing fits naturally with the rest of her daily life, mixing well with both of her jobs, her family, and friends. Every part of Sally's life is nicely balanced, never feeling overly chaotic. A range of characters reflect where she's at with her family at the family restaurant, Javier and other staff at the restaurant she inherited, the chorus full of suspects, and her closest friends that show up at her place and are very supportive of her investigating a possible murder. A Measure of Murder is clever and fun, with twists and turns that keep you guessing until the very end.
Leslie Karst has a down to earth style, with a strong voice in Sally who is smart, witty, and stubborn, with a fiery personality and a thorough attention to detail. These details make it easy to sleuth with her, getting as caught up in the mystery as she is. In an interesting move for a sleuthing mystery, the cop connection has very little to do with Sally's investigation, with the cop only appearing for a few scenes. The sleuthing fits naturally with the rest of her daily life, mixing well with both of her jobs, her family, and friends. Every part of Sally's life is nicely balanced, never feeling overly chaotic. A range of characters reflect where she's at with her family at the family restaurant, Javier and other staff at the restaurant she inherited, the chorus full of suspects, and her closest friends that show up at her place and are very supportive of her investigating a possible murder. A Measure of Murder is clever and fun, with twists and turns that keep you guessing until the very end.
August 1, 2018
Although there's plenty of foodie (and wine!) talk, since Sally Solari owns one restaurant and also works in her family's more traditional restaurant, most of this mystery concerns the choir that Sally has just joined. Since high school, she and her friend have been fascinated by the Mozart Requiem, and now they'll get to sing in it! But during one of the first rehearsals, one of the choir members dies in a fall. The police say it was a tragic accident, but the dead man's girlfriend, one of the sopranos, begs Sally to investigate. Unfortunately, motives abound, but Sally and the friends she shares her problems with, including her ex-boyfriend, DA Eric, who persuaded her to join the choir, overlook one that seems obvious to the reader. And so the murderer claims another victim before Sally catches on. This seems to be a nice, solid series with an interesting background, but somehow I don't warm up to the main character--just a matter of chemistry, I guess.
October 19, 2021
This is a light mystery with a little bit of restaurant/foodie talk. Sally lives in Santa Cruz and she inherited a fancy restaurant from her aunt and works at her family's restaurant. She joined a chorus so there's a lot of music/choral talk (which I don't know about).
At the chorus, one of the members fell and died...or was it murder? Sally gets involved with the victim's girlfriend asks for Sally's help because of what Sally did for her aunt (solved that murder).
Sally is a former attorney, so there is a little bit of lawyer talk, but the focus is on the restaurant. She is a curious person who isn't trying to solve crimes, but helps when the girlfriend asks.
The book was okay. I like the food talk more than the music, but people and characters are allowed to be into more than one thing. If you're looking for a cozy mystery, no gore, this is good. There are recipes in the back of the book, which I do like!
At the chorus, one of the members fell and died...or was it murder? Sally gets involved with the victim's girlfriend asks for Sally's help because of what Sally did for her aunt (solved that murder).
Sally is a former attorney, so there is a little bit of lawyer talk, but the focus is on the restaurant. She is a curious person who isn't trying to solve crimes, but helps when the girlfriend asks.
The book was okay. I like the food talk more than the music, but people and characters are allowed to be into more than one thing. If you're looking for a cozy mystery, no gore, this is good. There are recipes in the back of the book, which I do like!
August 19, 2023
2.5 Sally Solari is busy juggling work at her family’s Italian restaurant, Solari’s, and helping Javier plan the autumn menu for the restaurant she’s just inherited, Gauguin. Complicating this already hectic schedule, Sally joins her ex-boyfriend Eric’s chorus, which is performing a newly discovered version of her favorite composition: the Mozart Requiem. But then, at the first rehearsal, a tenor falls to his death on the church courtyard—and his soprano girlfriend is sure it wasn’t an accident. [amazon synopsis]
FAAAAR too much technical information about how to read or write music, too much historical background information about Mozart’s Requiem, and way too much technical information that sounds like ir was written by a classically trained musician. Not much in the way of a murder investigation. Hopefully #3 in the series will be better. {And I play classical music on the piano]
FAAAAR too much technical information about how to read or write music, too much historical background information about Mozart’s Requiem, and way too much technical information that sounds like ir was written by a classically trained musician. Not much in the way of a murder investigation. Hopefully #3 in the series will be better. {And I play classical music on the piano]
July 25, 2017
I received this book through a Goodreads contest. It is the 2nd of the series, but the author gives a brief synopsis here and there to help you understand how Sally Solari came to take over Gauguin (restaurant).
While the author, Leslie Karst, enjoys singing in a chorus, classical music and cycling; I don't, but she found these aspects of her own personal life important enough to keep shoving it into the reader's eyes and mind. The choral director, Marta, is Italian; I don't know the language, just how to cook the cuisine, but she is constantly throwing out Italian phrases, and not always giving a translation.
By page 159 of the 314 page book, I'd had enough, skipped to the last chapter where everything about the murder was explained...the end! Thanks for the recipes included at the very end.
While the author, Leslie Karst, enjoys singing in a chorus, classical music and cycling; I don't, but she found these aspects of her own personal life important enough to keep shoving it into the reader's eyes and mind. The choral director, Marta, is Italian; I don't know the language, just how to cook the cuisine, but she is constantly throwing out Italian phrases, and not always giving a translation.
By page 159 of the 314 page book, I'd had enough, skipped to the last chapter where everything about the murder was explained...the end! Thanks for the recipes included at the very end.
May 18, 2021
New to me author. Received the book free from "Mystery Lover's Kitchen". This book is very well written and has a good mystery. It does tend towards using Italian phrases quite often, a bit of in-depth musical information and due to the main character being a restaurateur, there is a lot of in-depth information on that also, but all of it written interestingly. The reason for four stars and not five is that sprinkled thru the book are four letter words that are so unnecessary. As I got over halfway thru the book, these increased along with irreverent usage of God's name. Thus, I skipped to the end to have closure on who the murderer was etc. I really enjoy 'Cozy Mysteries' but don't read those that have profanity in them. Was really disappointed to find that in this book.
January 14, 2024
I liked this second book even though it focused more on Mozart's Requiem than on the restaurants—though I do not see how Sally managed to keep up with all three obligations. I've sung in several different choruses and choirs over the years, so maybe that's why all the musical stuff kept my interest. There were plenty of misdirects and red herrings to keep me guessing. Every time I thought I'd figured it out, I got sent in a different direction.
I was glad to see that it tied up the loose thread from the previous book in the way I had hoped. I hope the small hanging thread at the end of this one will be tied up in the next book.
I was glad to see that it tied up the loose thread from the previous book in the way I had hoped. I hope the small hanging thread at the end of this one will be tied up in the next book.
April 19, 2018
3.5 stars
Second entry in the Sally Solari mystery. Good characters and an interesting restaurant setting. Main character Sally owns and runs one restaurant and helps her father as well with the more staid family Italian restaurant. A main thread in this novel is Sally's auditioning for a classical chorus group. One of the members is found dead, and the victim's girlfriend suspects his death was no accident and asks Sally to investigate.
Entertaining despite a fairly unrealistic and hurried ending.
Second entry in the Sally Solari mystery. Good characters and an interesting restaurant setting. Main character Sally owns and runs one restaurant and helps her father as well with the more staid family Italian restaurant. A main thread in this novel is Sally's auditioning for a classical chorus group. One of the members is found dead, and the victim's girlfriend suspects his death was no accident and asks Sally to investigate.
Entertaining despite a fairly unrealistic and hurried ending.
September 12, 2017
This was my first time reading a book by Leslie Karst. I enjoyed reading this mystery and until the end I did not figure out who the culprit was. The only disadvantage I had was not knowing much about music which might have made the book alittle easier to follow since it was about a choral group. The characters were well defined and the plot line easy to follow. I would recommend this book to mystery lovers. I did not read her first book yet but plan on it!
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