The Great Chili Kill-Off

Fresh-Baked Mystery #12

by Livia J. Washburn

The chili in Texas is red-hot . . . and so is murder!

Phyllis, Sam, Carolyn, and Eve head for West Texas to compete in a Fourth of July chili cookoff. Thousands of people have descended on a sleepy little ghost town, turning it into a boomtown for chili mavens, gamblers, musicians, and media. Raucous excitement fills the air, but so does chili when a sabotaged propane cooker explodes, killing the much-hated current champion.

The victim leaves behind a tangled trail of sleeping with other men’s wives, cheating at cards – and maybe at chili cooking – and deadly anger. With Sam a possible suspect in the murder, emotions run hot as a bowl of Texas red as Phyllis has to untangle these threads in order to put her finger on the killer!

Livia J. Washburn's beloved Fresh Baked Mystery series is back with another novel full of tasty recipes, dastardly doings, and brilliant sleuthing by Phyllis Newsom and her friends. THE GREAT CHILI KILL-OFF is a delicious dish of murder and detection.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Fiction

226 pages, Paperback

Published June 4, 2017

About the author

Under the names Livia J. Washburn and L.J. Washburn, Livia Reasoner has been writing award-winning, critically acclaimed mystery, western, romance, and historical novels for more than thirty years. She began to write in collaboration with her husband, author James Reasoner, and soon branched out into telling her own stories. She received the Private Eye Writers of America award and the American Mystery award for her first mystery, WILD NIGHT, and was nominated for a Spur by the Western Writers of America for a novel she wrote with her husband, James Reasoner. Livia won the Peacemaker Award from Western Fictioneers for her story “Charlie’s Pie”.

Reviews

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

These books are always so much fun! I like Phyllis and the rest of the gang and love reading about the cooking contests they enter and the murders they get involved with. Recipes are included at the end.

[Fluff Smut & Murder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Phyllis and the gang are back for yet another recipe-filled murder. It works - its a fluffy, cozy murder mystery that moves rather quickly and is a little light on the suspense. Carolyn is her usual sour-puss self - even maybe a bit more than usual. Recipes are on-point as usual and the little addition at the end should make for an interesting #13!

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very lightweight cozy mystery. No really dangerous or gorey scenes (for which I am thankful). There is a good sense of place — a three-day cooking competition in west Texas (reminded me of the Marty Robbins song about the “west Texas town of El Paso” although this story takes place in Cactus Bluff). There is more emphasis on human relationships and socializing than on sleuthing. The law enforcement officers are quite forgettable. So, not an engrossing read but served me very well as an “insomniac” novel (to amuse me when I can’t sleep but which is simple enough that I can easily rewind to the place where I was finally lulled into oblivion!). Three stars? Really? Well, okay, as some people like to say — 2.5 stars rounded to 3.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Phyllis,Sam,Carolyn and Eve leave to compete in a Fouth of July chili cook off in a town owned by one man. A former ghost town it only comes to life for the cook off. A trailer blows up killing the much hated current chili champion. The victim leaves behind a trail of cheating with cards, sleeping with other men’s wives and maybe cheating at the chili cooking. Sam is a suspect so Phyllis goes about finding out who really did. This was an interesting story, it really didn’t have very much about Carolyn and Eve or interaction between the 4 of them.

[Val · Rating 4 out of 5]

The chili wasn't the only thing spicy in this story. 🔥 There was enough motives and suspects among the whole town that I wasn't able to solve it at all. 😣 After Phyllis confronted the killer and pointed out a few things I'm like oh yeah! 😉 I can't imagine why they thought Sam was a killer. 😣 Shoddy investigation work. OH NO I SOUND LIKE CAROLYN! 😱 It took me a lot longer to read than it should have but a unexpected trip out of town cut into my reading time. 😡 The welcome home "party" at the end has me scratching my head 😕 and wondering what the gang is going to be mixed up with next.

[Linda Smatzny · Rating 3 out of 5]

This time Phyllis, Sam, Carolyn and Eve are in West Texas for a chili cookoff that Sam has entered. The winner of the previous three years is murdered and the Texas Ranger in charge of the case seems to think that Sam did the crime. Phyllis knows that Sam has done nothing wrong so starts asking questions. The ending of the book is very open. The book was a quick easy read.

[Gretchen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like this series about retired teachers who share a house and adventures. Phyllis and Sam investigate murders. When someone blows up the reigning champ of the chili contest, Phyllis needs to find the killer before Sam is arrested for the deed. These books include recipes also. Since I don't like chili, none of them interested me.

[Deb Sharp · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun read!

This one had a fun travel/holiday twist to it, with interesting characters and a delicious chilli recipe. I just love this group of friends, can't wait to read about their next adventure.

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having a cooking competition focus on Sam rather than Phyllis or Carolyn was nice. It was a nice read even though I figured out the killer when Phyllis did. The only main drawback is Felicity Prosper, the reporter. I don't like her.

[April Schilling · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore this series!

[Brenda Schneider · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed the story and characters.

[Anita Beach · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book fun to read mystery

Light fun to read mystery love the cooking mystery invovled . The roommates are great. The book includes recepies. This is a great series

[Danni · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book was fun.

[Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked the setting in this story. Different part of Texas than all the other stories. I have never been to a chili cookoff but now I want to go to one.

[Heidi Scarletta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book

I like that the author includes recipes in the book. There was a good description of the town in the book.

[Ro · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sam enters a chili cook-off and the main competitor gets blown up.

[jeannette swanson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite books I've read this summer. Each character has a distinct personality and yet they all gel together so perfectly. I can't wait to read more in this series.

[Katy Lovejoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

favorite in the series

[Star ☔️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great mystery! I loved all the chili and Texas stuff! Reminded me of my Texan livin' days. The characters were fun and I loved the campers, dust devils, and the chili cook-off. All the talking about yummy chili made me very hungry. I recommend this mystery to culinary cozy mystery lovers, especially, if you love Texas or chili.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am sooo happy I re-discovered this series and I am "caught up" as of today, am now waiting for book #13 coming in October! I love these characters and have been away from this series for over 2 years.....I remembered them, easy peasy! Great read!