Chocolate Quake

Carolyn Blue Culinary Mysteries #4

by Nancy Fairbanks

Forty-something homemaker Carolyn Blue is through with cooking and cleaning. She has finally decided to throw in the dishtowel—and take on a dream job as a food writer. Now her plate is filled with exotic locales, delectable foods, and even a dash of crime—to taste. She could very well get used to this...

Soon after arriving in San Francisco, Carolyn takes a deep breath and does what she has to…calls her mother-in-law to tell her they’re in town. The answering machine picks up: “You have reached Professor Vera Blue. I am not home because I have been arrested for first degree murder.”

Now Carolyn has to go directly to jail—to find out why the famous feminist was at the scene of the crime with the victim’s blood all over her. Between police and prisoners, lawyers and liars—and even a few earthquake tremors—Carolyn is truly shaken. And she still has yet to sample Frisco fare. She could always taste-test prison food. Now that would make an interesting column...

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Cozy, Mystery Thriller

290 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

A pseudonym used by Nancy Herndon.

Series:
* A Culinary Mystery with Recipes

Reviews

[Ana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good mystery spoiled by typos and Spanish and Italian mistakes. I guessed the killer, but just before the MC did. Carolyn and Jason are in San Francisco for a conference, and they find out that Jason's mother has been booked for murder. While Jason attends the conference, Carolyn, with the help of a PI hired by Jason's father, investigates when the police do not care to go any further. There are interesting recipes scattered in the book, and lots of talk of food.

[Kyle Fisher · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book didn’t capture my interest, maybe because we were on vacation. The mystery was OK. Carolyn’s husband was a jerk especially since he appeared to care less about his mother being arrested for murder and solely about the conference he was attending. The other characters were stereotyped.

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Couldn’t keep my attention

[Boyschool · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’m getting rid of these books. I think I have five of them, and after trying to read two, I quit. This one has so many ridiculous accents, like the Italian who says things like “It'sa me,what you want? I have-a gelato I make-a myself”, to the Russian who says things like “No one coming in or going out from Alexi Timatovich without signing name. Always I am being here.” , to the Asian detective who says “Confucius say, Life Not Fair!” This idiocy goes on and on, and then add in endless mentions of feminism, lesbians, and people who have had sex change operations. Stupid book!

[Carolyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Picked it up at a second hand shop while on vacation and in need of another book to read. While it’s an older book yes, I was surprised and not pleased by the stereotypes of different lifestyles/beliefs of characters in the book. Started to give it one star due to my extreme dislike of the strong stereotypes, but because I did at least take time to finish the book I figured I should give it another star for a slightly fun and interesting plot and storyline.

[Cathie Murphy · Rating 2 out of 5]

2nd book by this author. I thought the first one was bad, but this one's even worse. At least the first book I read had a few redeeming qualities, but not this one. The storyline and the plot were excellent. It was the creepy characters that were so disgusting I ended up skipping sections. For a book to be good, characters have to be relatable and these characters were despicable. Not recommend.

[Alexia Athanassiadou · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ωραία ιστορία, ωραίες και οι συνταγές αλλά μετά την μέση του βιβλίου άρχισα να βαριέμαι. Πολλές παράλληλες ιστορίες και λίγο πριν το τέλος ειχε πάλι ενδιαφέρον. Πολυ μπέρδεμα αλλά σου αφήνει μια καλή εντύπωση. Ότι πρέπει για καλοκαίρι και παραλία αν και σου ανοίγει λίγο την όρεξη.

[Wildgoose · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a cute mystery, but I liked Motsarela Most Wanted better

[Tabby Kat · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Carolyn Blue culinary-travelogue mysteries are, I'll admit, one of my favourites. And while the multiple point-of view narratives were unnecessary, in my opinion, and a bit distracting, (in "Chocolate Quake" we're not only privy to Carolyn's and her husband, Jason's, thoughts but also those of San Francisco private detective, Sam Flamboise's thoughts as well), the mystery was so interesting and intriguing that it captured my attention completely.
Carolyn and Jason are in San Francisco -- he to attend a conference, while Carolyn has tagged along so that she can sample (and write about) the sights and foods of that unique city. But first business before pleasure: San Francisco is also the current home of Carolyn's critical feminist mother-in-law, Vera. But when Carolyn makes the curtesy call to Vera to inform her of their arrival, the last thing she expects is to be greeted with the news that Vera has been arrested for murder. Vera, who has been working at the Union Street Women's Center, has been accused of stabbing to death Denise Faulks, the center's accountant. The evidence against Vera is circumstantial at best, unfortunately the police believing that they have their murderer have stopped investigating the crime completely; while neither Vera, nor Jason for that matter, seem to be taking this crisis seriously. And it's beginning to dawn upon Carolyn that she will have to discover who the real murderer is and solve this crime herself! Now, if she can also figure out how to cope with all the tremors as well as fit in a couple of restaurant stopovers and some sight-seeing as well...

[Ed · Rating 4 out of 5]

#4 in the Culinary Food Writer series. Carolyn Blue is a food columnist from Texas who travels with her husband as he attends scientific conferences; this is a parallel to the author who is marries to a Texas chemist. The series will appeal to foodies; the mysteries aren't much, but this entry stands out as above average.

Culinary Food Writer series - Carolyn Blue and husband are in San Francisco for one of his scientific conferences. Coincidently, his professor, feminine activist mother has been jailed for the murder of a staff member at a woman's center. Carolyn is determined to find out who the real killer is and becomes partnered with a gay, ex-NFL player detective. Of course she finds time to eat.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I believe this book is # 4 in A Culinary Mystery series. I did enjoy the way it was written and the strange and funny characters in the book. Carolyn Blue is in San Francisco with her husband when she learns that her MIL has been arrested for murder! Carolyn goes into detective mode to help solve the crime, with a little help from her friends. She isn't too sure about SF after 3 different desserts are shaken off her plate when 3 small quakes hit the area. There was a little problem for me, trying to remember all of the characters, but it was a fun read.

loan from Brenda

[Margaret]

I didn't like this one quite as much as The Perils of Paella (which is the book right after this one in the series). Like Sam, I think towards the end I found Carolyn a little tiresome. I also thought there were really too many suspects, well, at least at first until I figured out the mystery. Loved the San Francisco setting though and I really want to try the Easy Pappa al Pomodor recipe! I will still read more in this series as I come across them.

[Kilgallen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall not a bad mystery. I did get a little annoyed at the weird historical trivia that broke up the flow of the story without adding anything meaningful to the "investigaton". The author also chose to tell the story from the view point of three different characters and did a good job of changing the "voice", but I found the technique to again be disruptive to the flow of the story.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did not know what to expect, the title sounded interesting. Liked so much I am looking for other books by Nancy Fairbanks. Since I am from the San Francisco area I was able to relate to the "Quakes" in the story. Loved the mother-in-law in jail and husband not concerned! Good story!

[Lbaker · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book did not thrill me, in fact I was half way through before I remembered I had read it before, and who "dunnit".

I might pick up another book by Nancy Fairbanks, but sincerely hope that it is better.

[Lo · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.25 stars

Perhaps a bit outdated (seeing as it was written in 2003) but I get the feeling it was a bit progressive for its time, even if some of it could be considered offensive now. Either way, the story itself was fun to read despite my inability to keep track of all the characters.

[Gail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Recipes are even worse, but the story is still fun.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mystery with recipes. What more could you ask for? Anyway, found the book well written with good humor and included historical facts.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Main character is a food columnist, hence the food title. Recipes are, of course, included.

[bex · Rating 2 out of 5]

There wasn't anything wrong with it really. It just didn't excite me.

[Mary Havlovic · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked the book

[Terri]

Fun!

[Edith · Rating 2 out of 5]

A fun bit of fluff. I especially enjoyed the antics of the heroine's mother-in-law.

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny and a good mystery!

[Mary Z : ) · Rating 1 out of 5]

I just don't care about any of these characters. : (

[Corinne Yee · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a fun read, but the characters often felt very much like caricatures. I've ready other cooking mysteries that were better.

[Carol Collins · Rating 1 out of 5]

Too, too sweet for me. Are there really 40 year old women that are that sheltered and naive?