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A Sally Solari Mystery #4
Murder from Scratch
Restaurateur Sally Solari’s cousin Evelyn may be blind, but she can see all too clearly that her chef mother’s death wasn’t an accidental overdose―she was murdered.
Santa Cruz restaurateur Sally Solari’s life is already boiling over as she deals with irate cooks and other staffing issues at the busy Gauguin restaurant. The rainy December weather isn’t cooling things down, either. So she’s steamed when her dad persuades her to take in Evelyn, her estranged blind cousin whose mother has just died of a drug overdose.
But Evelyn proves to be lots of fun and she’s a terrific cook. Back at the house she’d shared with her mom, Evelyn’s heightened sense of touch tells her that various objects―a bottle of cranberry juice, her grandfather’s jazz records―are out of place. She and her mom always kept things in the same place so Evelyn could find them. So she suspects that her mother’s death was neither accident nor suicide, no matter what the police believe.
The cousins’ sleuthing takes Sally and Evelyn into the world of macho commercial kitchens, and the cutthroat competitiveness that can flame up between chefs. In Leslie Karst’s scrumptious fourth Sally Solari mystery, Sally will have to chop a long list of suspects down to size or end up getting burned.
Santa Cruz restaurateur Sally Solari’s life is already boiling over as she deals with irate cooks and other staffing issues at the busy Gauguin restaurant. The rainy December weather isn’t cooling things down, either. So she’s steamed when her dad persuades her to take in Evelyn, her estranged blind cousin whose mother has just died of a drug overdose.
But Evelyn proves to be lots of fun and she’s a terrific cook. Back at the house she’d shared with her mom, Evelyn’s heightened sense of touch tells her that various objects―a bottle of cranberry juice, her grandfather’s jazz records―are out of place. She and her mom always kept things in the same place so Evelyn could find them. So she suspects that her mother’s death was neither accident nor suicide, no matter what the police believe.
The cousins’ sleuthing takes Sally and Evelyn into the world of macho commercial kitchens, and the cutthroat competitiveness that can flame up between chefs. In Leslie Karst’s scrumptious fourth Sally Solari mystery, Sally will have to chop a long list of suspects down to size or end up getting burned.
314 pages, Hardcover
First published April 9, 2019
47 people are currently reading
261 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 86 reviews
February 19, 2019
Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing an advance digital copy of MURDER FROM SCRATCH by Leslie Karst in exchange for an unbiased review. This is the fourth book, my first read, in the Sally Scolari series. The mystery stands alone and is fully contained within this novel. There are some secondary relationships that appear to carry over from one book to the next, however it is not necessary to have read the earlier books to get a sense of how the relationship stands at present.
In this novel, Ms. Karst has created the character of Evelyn, a blind young woman. It was refreshing to have a person with a disability portrayed accurately and without either special “superhuman” traits or almost insurmountable problems. In this book, Evelyn, the daughter of the murder victim, is a welcome addition in providing a reason for Sally to try to solve the murder. She also provides some well-researched, accurate information for how a blind individual functions in a sighted world. I particularly appreciated that, for Evelyn, her blindness was just a part of who she was in a way similar to the reality that we all have individual challenges and strengths. Not to trivialize blindness, it does present unique problems to overcome. However, in this novel, Evelyn does so with a calm, attitude that indicates it’s just part of who she is, not something that needs to be singled out above the rest of what makes her who she is.
The book is well plotted, although I found it easy to solve the mystery and found myself wondering why it took Sally so long to discover the murderer and the motive. One of the drawbacks was that instead of detective work that led up to the possibility of several individuals being guilty, Sally would focus on one suspect above the other, decide they were guilty, then discover her error because of an alibi, etc. The result was that one by one suspects were eliminated rather than maintaining the possibility of their guilt for the final denouement
In this novel, Evelyn’s mother is found dead of an overdose in the living room of the house she shares with Evelyn. The police think it’s suicide, pointing to a letter from her mother to Evelyn that says she is sorry. As Evelyn points out, the note is directed to “Evelyn” but her mother never called her that, preferring to call her a diminutive, such as “Evie”. She and Sally are convinced that it is murder and Sally sets out to solve it with little or no help from the police, although she is friends with the detective in charge of the case.
There are some interesting characters I would like to see further developed, such as Javier, the chef and co-owner of Sally’s restaurant, Detective Vargas, Sally’s father and her nonna, Eric and even Sally herself. As they are written here, they are not deep enough to fully engage me as a reader, leaving the impression that this is a series that is good in concept with some good plotting and a need to develop a bit more depth.
There are some interesting recipes included at the end of the book. Someone who is looking for a strong culinary hook in their cozy mysteries might find this enough reason to read this series. If you are looking for a strong mystery that contains some tension, even if it is within the typical confines of the cozy genre, this book has potential, but may come up slightly short of the mark.
In this novel, Ms. Karst has created the character of Evelyn, a blind young woman. It was refreshing to have a person with a disability portrayed accurately and without either special “superhuman” traits or almost insurmountable problems. In this book, Evelyn, the daughter of the murder victim, is a welcome addition in providing a reason for Sally to try to solve the murder. She also provides some well-researched, accurate information for how a blind individual functions in a sighted world. I particularly appreciated that, for Evelyn, her blindness was just a part of who she was in a way similar to the reality that we all have individual challenges and strengths. Not to trivialize blindness, it does present unique problems to overcome. However, in this novel, Evelyn does so with a calm, attitude that indicates it’s just part of who she is, not something that needs to be singled out above the rest of what makes her who she is.
The book is well plotted, although I found it easy to solve the mystery and found myself wondering why it took Sally so long to discover the murderer and the motive. One of the drawbacks was that instead of detective work that led up to the possibility of several individuals being guilty, Sally would focus on one suspect above the other, decide they were guilty, then discover her error because of an alibi, etc. The result was that one by one suspects were eliminated rather than maintaining the possibility of their guilt for the final denouement
In this novel, Evelyn’s mother is found dead of an overdose in the living room of the house she shares with Evelyn. The police think it’s suicide, pointing to a letter from her mother to Evelyn that says she is sorry. As Evelyn points out, the note is directed to “Evelyn” but her mother never called her that, preferring to call her a diminutive, such as “Evie”. She and Sally are convinced that it is murder and Sally sets out to solve it with little or no help from the police, although she is friends with the detective in charge of the case.
There are some interesting characters I would like to see further developed, such as Javier, the chef and co-owner of Sally’s restaurant, Detective Vargas, Sally’s father and her nonna, Eric and even Sally herself. As they are written here, they are not deep enough to fully engage me as a reader, leaving the impression that this is a series that is good in concept with some good plotting and a need to develop a bit more depth.
There are some interesting recipes included at the end of the book. Someone who is looking for a strong culinary hook in their cozy mysteries might find this enough reason to read this series. If you are looking for a strong mystery that contains some tension, even if it is within the typical confines of the cozy genre, this book has potential, but may come up slightly short of the mark.
April 5, 2019
Sally Solari gets the news from her father that her distant cousin Jackie has died of a drug overdose. While Sally is sad, she and Jackie weren’t close – in fact, they hadn’t spoken in years and she hadn’t met Evelyn, Jackie’s twenty-year-old daughter, who happens to be blind. Evelyn was still living with her mom, and she can’t face trying to live in the house alone right away, so she winds up moving into Sally’s spare room for a little while. The two women hit it off, and are soon plotting home cooked meals and plans for Evelyn’s twenty-first birthday.
A stop by Evelyn’s house to pick up a few things she needs bring some surprises to light. Things are out of place. Since Evelyn is blind, she and her mother kept everything in the same spot so that Evelyn could always find what she is looking for without needing help. Evelyn suspects this means someone else was in the house when her mom died. The police have ruled it a suicide by drug overdose, but is Evelyn right? If so, can Sally see the clues to find the killer?
There is a solid mystery here with several viable suspects. I did feel the pacing was a bit off, but I loved how Sally pieced things together and how the climax played out. Sally’s group of family and friends is wonderful, and a couple of sub plots allow us to see more of them. The book is set in the beginning of December; while it doesn’t have a lot of Christmas spirit, there is some, and it adds a fun touch to the book. The standout character here is Evelyn. Through her, we get a look at modern life for a person who is blind, and I found that fascinating. We get five recipes at the end, and they sound delicious if a bit ambitious for this lazy bachelor to attempt to make. (Not that I ever make any of the recipes in the culinary cozies I read.)
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
A stop by Evelyn’s house to pick up a few things she needs bring some surprises to light. Things are out of place. Since Evelyn is blind, she and her mother kept everything in the same spot so that Evelyn could always find what she is looking for without needing help. Evelyn suspects this means someone else was in the house when her mom died. The police have ruled it a suicide by drug overdose, but is Evelyn right? If so, can Sally see the clues to find the killer?
There is a solid mystery here with several viable suspects. I did feel the pacing was a bit off, but I loved how Sally pieced things together and how the climax played out. Sally’s group of family and friends is wonderful, and a couple of sub plots allow us to see more of them. The book is set in the beginning of December; while it doesn’t have a lot of Christmas spirit, there is some, and it adds a fun touch to the book. The standout character here is Evelyn. Through her, we get a look at modern life for a person who is blind, and I found that fascinating. We get five recipes at the end, and they sound delicious if a bit ambitious for this lazy bachelor to attempt to make. (Not that I ever make any of the recipes in the culinary cozies I read.)
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
May 7, 2019
This was the first cozy mystery that I genuinely liked. There was solid sleuthing shown which warmed my thriller loving heart. My first book by author Leslie Karst, though this was the fourth in the series, it was quite fun to follow Sally as she put on her thinking cap to find out who murdered her blind cousin Evelyn's mom.
I loved the way the author had characterised Sally. She was a line cook in her own restaurant. She managed her work, her hobbies, her friends quite comfortably. This book dealt with the cut throat restaurant business where making money seemed extremely difficult. It was quite enlightening. Evelyn too had a great part in the book, she was shown to be quite an enterprising strong woman, who had heightened senses.
My niggles would be there are certain lines which indicated the past few books, which I had no idea about. Hence I couldn't get a feel of their backstories. But that didn't affect my reading as Sally kept her personal life quite separate from her investigation. Another point which made me smile, having not read the complete title, I came to know the main character's name in chapter 9 when someone addresses her.
Overall, though a bit slow from my other books, but the good murder mystery more than made up for it. I quite enjoyed the interplay of familial relationships shown too.
I loved the way the author had characterised Sally. She was a line cook in her own restaurant. She managed her work, her hobbies, her friends quite comfortably. This book dealt with the cut throat restaurant business where making money seemed extremely difficult. It was quite enlightening. Evelyn too had a great part in the book, she was shown to be quite an enterprising strong woman, who had heightened senses.
My niggles would be there are certain lines which indicated the past few books, which I had no idea about. Hence I couldn't get a feel of their backstories. But that didn't affect my reading as Sally kept her personal life quite separate from her investigation. Another point which made me smile, having not read the complete title, I came to know the main character's name in chapter 9 when someone addresses her.
Overall, though a bit slow from my other books, but the good murder mystery more than made up for it. I quite enjoyed the interplay of familial relationships shown too.
May 26, 2019
Delightful and engaging mystery
I loved this book! It's a great mystery read. Sally is a wonderful protagonist. I feel like I'm there with her. And now I want to visit Santa cruz!
I loved this book! It's a great mystery read. Sally is a wonderful protagonist. I feel like I'm there with her. And now I want to visit Santa cruz!
June 5, 2019
I really enjoyed this cozy mystery book set in Santa Cruz California. In the story, Sally Solari's relative is found dead by her daughter Evelyn. The police think it's a suicide at first, but Evelyn is sure it was murder. Sally and Evelyn do some sleuthing to find the murderer, and Sally ends up in a very precarious situation. Sally is a really likable MC and I enjoyed her frustrations with her love life. Her restaurant Gauguin is also really cool. And I loved her reaction to her dad dating again.
April 26, 2019
Sally found herself playing host to her blind cousin Evelyn after Evelyn had come home to find her mother's dead body. After poking around the house a little and hearing about how a suicide note was worded, Evelyn was completely sure her mom hadn't committed suicide, and she wanted Sally to help her prove it. This was an exciting case that had several good suspects, red herrings along the way, and just when I thought we were being double-red herringed into thinking it was one person, I was still wrong, but it was a fun ride. The showdown was great and Sally really kept her brains about her and made some pretty smart moves and observations, one of which involved a fork in the perp's face.
During the case, Sally and Det. Vargas started being on a first-name basis, so maybe we'll get to see them go a on a few dates eventually. He seemed to appreciate her and Evelyn's help in this investigation. Sally's dad even found a lady to date. It'll be interesting to see what happens next. I really enjoyed the character of Evelyn! She was a strong young woman and an amazing cook, which told Sally from the get-go that they'd get along famously when her dad asked her to take Evelyn in for a few weeks. It's always a fun trip to Santa Cruz!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.
During the case, Sally and Det. Vargas started being on a first-name basis, so maybe we'll get to see them go a on a few dates eventually. He seemed to appreciate her and Evelyn's help in this investigation. Sally's dad even found a lady to date. It'll be interesting to see what happens next. I really enjoyed the character of Evelyn! She was a strong young woman and an amazing cook, which told Sally from the get-go that they'd get along famously when her dad asked her to take Evelyn in for a few weeks. It's always a fun trip to Santa Cruz!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.
February 19, 2019
Although this the fourth book of the Sally Solari series, it is the first one I have read and a new author for me. I was pleasantly surprised as it held my attention until I finished, many books about do I will read this author again and look for the earlier books.
Sally takes an estranged blind cousin, Evelyn. Her Mother had just passed due to an overdose of drugs. away and Evelyn was alone. She is 20 years and had a good education. It was fantastic reading about how Evelyn was able to live her life with the minimum of help The police feel the death was suicide and are ready to close the case. Evelyn feels her Mother would not have committed suicide and Sally agrees with her. Sally begins to explore what happened and finds a number of co-workers that had a motive for wanting dead. The ending will please you. I highly recommend this book.
Recipes are included.
Disclosure: Thanks to Crooked Lane Books for a copy through NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own.
Sally takes an estranged blind cousin, Evelyn. Her Mother had just passed due to an overdose of drugs. away and Evelyn was alone. She is 20 years and had a good education. It was fantastic reading about how Evelyn was able to live her life with the minimum of help The police feel the death was suicide and are ready to close the case. Evelyn feels her Mother would not have committed suicide and Sally agrees with her. Sally begins to explore what happened and finds a number of co-workers that had a motive for wanting dead. The ending will please you. I highly recommend this book.
Recipes are included.
Disclosure: Thanks to Crooked Lane Books for a copy through NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own.
August 23, 2019
Murder from Scratch, the latest in Leslie Karst's foodie mystery series featuring restaurant owner and recovered lawyer Sally Solari, is chock full of great meals, good friends, and a clever mystery. The California coastline setting is a bonus, along with a fascinating look at the world of Sally's blind cousin.
January 2, 2019
A fun cozy mystery for a relaxing afternoon read. It's what you would expect, but the story is still great.
June 18, 2019
••• 4 and 1/2 stars ••• At Gauguin, the restaurant left to her by her aunt, things are going well for Sally, so we'll that she is taking her chef, Javier, on as a full partner. But her father lets her know that a cousin has passed away, either suicide or perhaps something more sinister. Evelyn, her cousin's blind daughter, comes to stay with Sally for a few days and the more they learn, the more it looks like murder. As they look into it, the number of suspects behind to narrow down. Hopefully they can it out before the murderer strikes again. Quite a treat! Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 12, 2021
I loved everything about this Sally Solari Mystery. Karst does an excellent job of exploring all the culinary delights, providing delicious Italian recipes, and giving us insight into the restaurant industry as a business. I also really appreciated her introduction of Evelyn, a blind main character. It was so interesting to learn more about how the world would be without sight.
The mystery was done very well, and I loved the slow reveal of different clues. I also enjoyed the climax of the story and the showdown.
A mouthwatering mystery not to be missed!
The mystery was done very well, and I loved the slow reveal of different clues. I also enjoyed the climax of the story and the showdown.
A mouthwatering mystery not to be missed!
March 18, 2019
MURDER FROM SCRATCH is book four in the series of the Sally Solari Mysteries of which I look forward to reading more. It’s a delicious mixture of mystery, family, and irate chefs and a fun, fast and interesting read. I haven’t read the other books in this series yet, however, I don’t think that this spoilt my enjoyment of this novel. That said, there is nothing more exciting than picking up a book that is the first in a new series.
Santa Cruz restaurateur Sally Solari’s life is difficult enough at the busy Gauguin restaurant. So she’s worked up when her dad persuades her to take in Evelyn, her estranged blind cousin whose mother has just died of a drug overdose.
But Evelyn proves to be lots of fun and she’s a terrific cook. Back at the house she’d shared with her mum, Evelyn’s heightened sense of touch tells her that various objects - a bottle of cranberry juice, her grandfather’s jazz records - are out of place. She and her mum always kept things in the same place so Evelyn could find them. So she suspects that her mother’s death was neither accident nor suicide, no matter what the police believe.
The cousins’ turn detective and Sally and Evelyn are thrown into the world of male-oriented kitchens, and the cut-throat competitiveness that can flame up between chefs. With a long list of suspects in the frame, will Sally be able to find the perpetrator or end up getting burned?
Leslie Karst’s delightful writing style is well-paced and complemented by some interesting characters, some of whom were annoying but helped to make the story as good as it was. There was some romantic and spicy love entanglement, too. Written in the first-person narrative and sharing Sally’s innermost thoughts, Leslie Karst includes some wonderfully amusing moments and vivid descriptions especially of some of the food, such as fall-off-the-bone pulled pork and salmon with habanero-lime butter. An ex-lawyer, the highly organised and extremely likeable Sally demonstrated admirable sleuthing techniques and her cousin Evelyn, although with her own problems, exuded warmth and friendliness.
The book had a natural, steady pace and I was kept guessing right until the surprising reveal. Delightful and entertaining, MURDER FROM SCRATCH is a quick, light, highly recommended read for all cozy mystery fans.
{Thank you to #NetGalley, #Crookedlanebks and Leslie Karst for the free copy of #MurderFromScratch and for giving me the opportunity to provide an honest review.}
Santa Cruz restaurateur Sally Solari’s life is difficult enough at the busy Gauguin restaurant. So she’s worked up when her dad persuades her to take in Evelyn, her estranged blind cousin whose mother has just died of a drug overdose.
But Evelyn proves to be lots of fun and she’s a terrific cook. Back at the house she’d shared with her mum, Evelyn’s heightened sense of touch tells her that various objects - a bottle of cranberry juice, her grandfather’s jazz records - are out of place. She and her mum always kept things in the same place so Evelyn could find them. So she suspects that her mother’s death was neither accident nor suicide, no matter what the police believe.
The cousins’ turn detective and Sally and Evelyn are thrown into the world of male-oriented kitchens, and the cut-throat competitiveness that can flame up between chefs. With a long list of suspects in the frame, will Sally be able to find the perpetrator or end up getting burned?
Leslie Karst’s delightful writing style is well-paced and complemented by some interesting characters, some of whom were annoying but helped to make the story as good as it was. There was some romantic and spicy love entanglement, too. Written in the first-person narrative and sharing Sally’s innermost thoughts, Leslie Karst includes some wonderfully amusing moments and vivid descriptions especially of some of the food, such as fall-off-the-bone pulled pork and salmon with habanero-lime butter. An ex-lawyer, the highly organised and extremely likeable Sally demonstrated admirable sleuthing techniques and her cousin Evelyn, although with her own problems, exuded warmth and friendliness.
The book had a natural, steady pace and I was kept guessing right until the surprising reveal. Delightful and entertaining, MURDER FROM SCRATCH is a quick, light, highly recommended read for all cozy mystery fans.
{Thank you to #NetGalley, #Crookedlanebks and Leslie Karst for the free copy of #MurderFromScratch and for giving me the opportunity to provide an honest review.}
March 19, 2019
MURDER FROM SCRATCH is the fourth book in the Sally Solari Mystery series by Leslie Karst. I’ve read the previous three books and have greatly enjoyed the way she’s focused on one of the five senses in each book. However, this book is my favorite so far and I feel that the author has found her stride. Restauranteur Sally Solari may be the protagonist, but the author manages to integrate Sally’s blind cousin, Evelyn, effectively into the story. I was fascinated by the details brought into play, showing the reader how a blind person lives and accomplishes day-to-day things that the rest of us take for granted. I was pleased that Evelyn is not a figure to pity, but instead is a fully developed character who is inspirational. Well, I did pity Evelyn because her mother was murdered, but the young woman manages to move forward and try to do everything she can to find the truth. I admire the way Ms. Karst focuses on the strength of family, especially when Sally takes in her orphaned cousin, despite not knowing her, because “nothing trumped famiglia.” She provides heartwarming scenes that tug at the heart and pulls the reader into the story.
Sally is becoming quite skilled at juggling her restaurant, Gauguin, along with employees, friends, and family, while hunting down suspects who may have wanted her aunt dead. Her hunt gives the reader a peek at the cutthroat practices of the restaurant business… and it’s brutal. Even though the police rule the death as a suicide, Sally perseveres and starts asking questions based on her cousin’s observations using senses that have been greatly developed due to her lack of sight. There were plenty of people who might have had issues with Sally’s aunt and I had a difficult time guessing the correct suspect as the story unfolded. With the reveal, Ms. Karst wrapped the story up in an exciting manner that had me turning pages until I read the very last word.
As a restauranteur, Sally cooks some amazing dishes and the reader will be drooling throughout the entire book. I love that the author provides several savory recipes at the back of the book and they all sound company-worthy.
I was provided an advance copy via Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Sally is becoming quite skilled at juggling her restaurant, Gauguin, along with employees, friends, and family, while hunting down suspects who may have wanted her aunt dead. Her hunt gives the reader a peek at the cutthroat practices of the restaurant business… and it’s brutal. Even though the police rule the death as a suicide, Sally perseveres and starts asking questions based on her cousin’s observations using senses that have been greatly developed due to her lack of sight. There were plenty of people who might have had issues with Sally’s aunt and I had a difficult time guessing the correct suspect as the story unfolded. With the reveal, Ms. Karst wrapped the story up in an exciting manner that had me turning pages until I read the very last word.
As a restauranteur, Sally cooks some amazing dishes and the reader will be drooling throughout the entire book. I love that the author provides several savory recipes at the back of the book and they all sound company-worthy.
I was provided an advance copy via Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
January 13, 2019
Murder from Scratch is the fourth installment in the A Sally Solari Mystery series set in Santa Cruz, CA and featuring restaurant owner, Sally Solari. Sally is settling into her new role at Gauguin, the restaurant she inherited and is looking forward to having the head chef Javier officially become a co-owner.
At the request of her father, Sally welcomes her distant cousin Evelyn Olivieri into her home. Twenty year old Evelyn who was born blind, discovered the body of her mother Jackie, in their living room when she'd returned from a friend's house one morning and is now scared to staff at the house by herself. Happy to help Evie readjust, Sally is surprised when after a brief visit to pick up a few personal belongings at the house, the girl announces that despite the police ruling the death a suicide, she knows that her mother was murdered. Misplaced cranberry juice, an incorrect name on the suicide note and records not put back in the correct spot are just a few of the clues that someone had been in the house with Jackie the night she died.
Despite the repeated warnings from Detective Martin Vargas to stay clear of his investigation, Sally finds herself in the middle of a dangerous investigation. Suspects include Jackie's ex husband, her former boss and past co-workers, and two of her current employees in her pop up restaurant.
A fast paced, easy afternoon read. I have not read any of the other books in this series and was able to follow along, so can recommend the book as a stand alone. However, I did feel that I was missing background information on some of the main characters so will go back and start at the beginning.
I received an advanced copy of Murder from Scratch from NetGalley via Crooked Lane Books. While not required to write a review I am more than happy to offer my honest opinion.
At the request of her father, Sally welcomes her distant cousin Evelyn Olivieri into her home. Twenty year old Evelyn who was born blind, discovered the body of her mother Jackie, in their living room when she'd returned from a friend's house one morning and is now scared to staff at the house by herself. Happy to help Evie readjust, Sally is surprised when after a brief visit to pick up a few personal belongings at the house, the girl announces that despite the police ruling the death a suicide, she knows that her mother was murdered. Misplaced cranberry juice, an incorrect name on the suicide note and records not put back in the correct spot are just a few of the clues that someone had been in the house with Jackie the night she died.
Despite the repeated warnings from Detective Martin Vargas to stay clear of his investigation, Sally finds herself in the middle of a dangerous investigation. Suspects include Jackie's ex husband, her former boss and past co-workers, and two of her current employees in her pop up restaurant.
A fast paced, easy afternoon read. I have not read any of the other books in this series and was able to follow along, so can recommend the book as a stand alone. However, I did feel that I was missing background information on some of the main characters so will go back and start at the beginning.
I received an advanced copy of Murder from Scratch from NetGalley via Crooked Lane Books. While not required to write a review I am more than happy to offer my honest opinion.
March 21, 2019
Murder from Scratch by Leslie Karst is the 4th book in the Sally Solari Mystery series, and another fine addition. Sally, a former attorney, who returns to her home town, Santa Cruz, CA to run her inherited restaurant Solari, and also helping her father with the family restaurant, Gauguin. When her father cousin is found dead by her cousin Evelyn, who is blind, Sally takes her in. Evelyn is positive that someone killed her mother, so they work together to find the truth. I really enjoy this book, it kept me guessing until the end. I recommend this book/series for all people who enjoy a good cozy mystery.
I reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books. Thank you.
I reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books. Thank you.
March 24, 2019
In this installment of the Sally Solari series, Sally learns she has a cousin that is in need after she finds her mother murdered. The cousin is blind, but with her keen senses and organization skills she is able to help Sally and the police figure out that her mother's suicide may have been more sinister. The characters have really blossomed in this series and I am glad that I have kept up with it. I am thrilled that Sally is really being fleshed out with more complex emotions and personality which really enhances the plot line. This one was especially intriguing and entertaining as it was wrapped up with multiple potential villains to be the potential culprit. I am really looking forward to the next book in the series so lets hope the author doesn't keep us in suspense too long!
April 12, 2019
This is the fourth book in a series and my first foray into this world of cooking and mystery. The character of Evelyn was great. It was refreshing to see how a blind person navigates the world. I, myself, would have been so scared to tackle the world without sight. She was a light that burned brightly during the darkness of the mystery. I liked how they used the clues Evie came up with to push the mystery forward. I am not sure a sighted person would have figured this one out on their own.
Just one great book. Good flow, memorable characters and a fun and interesting atmosphere. All the restaurants and cooking aspects were captivating to watch. Great backdrop for a mystery.
Cozy mystery fans, check this one out! It’s a keeper.
I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.
Just one great book. Good flow, memorable characters and a fun and interesting atmosphere. All the restaurants and cooking aspects were captivating to watch. Great backdrop for a mystery.
Cozy mystery fans, check this one out! It’s a keeper.
I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.
February 4, 2020
I really enjoyed this book a lot! The characters were likable and I enjoyed the realistic pacing and life of the characters. I loved the diversity of the characters too. Informative, not stereotypical and respectfully done. I did buy this book because it’s a finalist this year for a humorous cozy award but it’s not a humorous cozy so that threw me off. However, it really didn’t matter!
May 12, 2020
I loved the trip to Santa Cruz, one of my favorite haunts. This just-for-fun mystery has a great location, good food, and dogs going for it. It's a good thing because the food kept me going when the mystery got slow. All's well that ends well, so they say. If another of these books come my way, I'll definitely read it.
March 27, 2019
Restaurant owner, chef and part-time amateur sleuth Sally Solari is back and things are heating up both in and out of the kitchen. First of all, one of her cooks has an attitude. Brian has been on edge, and it is affecting his co-workers in a less than desirable way. Maybe he is worried about Sally going into joint ownership of Gauguin, the restaurant she inherited from her aunt, with Javier her head chef. And secondly, her father calls with an unusual request. Apparently a relative by marriage has been found dead by her twenty-year-old blind daughter Evelyn. Italian family ties are strong, even if you have not seen a relative in years, you still help them. So Sally’s dad brought Evelyn to his house because she has nowhere else to go. She is more than welcome, but her service dog has made Sally’s dad’s allergies kick into high gear. Of course Sally welcomes Evelyn and her dog into her home. She is looking forward to getting to know her better.
When Evelyn begins to tell Sally about her mother’s death ruled a suicide, the girls soon realize foul play is most likely what happened. Apparently Evelyn’s mom was a gifted chef and had recently struck out on her own, leaving a disgruntled boss behind. Then there are the suspicious co-workers that might be hiding something. Before long the suspect list becomes longer than the specials menu at Gauguin and Sally is determined to prove her aunt’s death was not an accident or suicide, but a well-planned murder.
Detective Vargas warns Sally to stay away from her list of suspects, knowing it is futile. He just wants her out of harm’s way. When he asks her to call him by his first name, Sally wonders if he may want to have a more personal relationship. Speaking of personal relationships, her ex-boyfriend Max is apparently seeing someone. She has mixed feelings about the whole thing. They are just friends, right? Then why is she upset about him seeing another woman?
This is the fourth book in this series, but the third I have read. Somehow I missed the first one, but have added it to my reading list. There are references to the previous books, but reads fine as a stand-alone novel if you have not read the previous books.
If you read my reviews, you know by now I am a fan of cozy mysteries. I know they are not War and Peace, but no one ever intended them to be. Karst delivers an intriguing plot with lots of suspects, characters that come to life in the pages and a satisfying end to the story. It is all a reader can ask for and more. I learned many things in Murder from Scratch about how blind people navigate through their lives as well as what it is like to work in and run a restaurant. And as a bonus, there are recipes at the end of the book for some of the dishes discussed in the novel.
I highly recommend this series if you are a mystery lover, crazy for cozies or just love a good plot without the blood and gore. You will not be disappointed.
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 © 2019 Laura Hartman
When Evelyn begins to tell Sally about her mother’s death ruled a suicide, the girls soon realize foul play is most likely what happened. Apparently Evelyn’s mom was a gifted chef and had recently struck out on her own, leaving a disgruntled boss behind. Then there are the suspicious co-workers that might be hiding something. Before long the suspect list becomes longer than the specials menu at Gauguin and Sally is determined to prove her aunt’s death was not an accident or suicide, but a well-planned murder.
Detective Vargas warns Sally to stay away from her list of suspects, knowing it is futile. He just wants her out of harm’s way. When he asks her to call him by his first name, Sally wonders if he may want to have a more personal relationship. Speaking of personal relationships, her ex-boyfriend Max is apparently seeing someone. She has mixed feelings about the whole thing. They are just friends, right? Then why is she upset about him seeing another woman?
This is the fourth book in this series, but the third I have read. Somehow I missed the first one, but have added it to my reading list. There are references to the previous books, but reads fine as a stand-alone novel if you have not read the previous books.
If you read my reviews, you know by now I am a fan of cozy mysteries. I know they are not War and Peace, but no one ever intended them to be. Karst delivers an intriguing plot with lots of suspects, characters that come to life in the pages and a satisfying end to the story. It is all a reader can ask for and more. I learned many things in Murder from Scratch about how blind people navigate through their lives as well as what it is like to work in and run a restaurant. And as a bonus, there are recipes at the end of the book for some of the dishes discussed in the novel.
I highly recommend this series if you are a mystery lover, crazy for cozies or just love a good plot without the blood and gore. You will not be disappointed.
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 © 2019 Laura Hartman
April 11, 2019
Sally Solari is no longer practicing law and now owns Gaugin, a restaurant in Santa Cruz after inheriting it from her aunt. Her father also runs a restaurant, Solari and Sally spends her time between the two. It's a lot to juggle and now her father has a favor to ask of her that will make her life even more complicated. Sally's cousin has died and. according to the police, it was a suicide. She lived with her 20 year old blind daughter, Evelyn and Sally's father has taken her in but finds out he is allergic to her service dog. Will Sally please take over and help her adjust to her new circumstances? It's family after all and, even though the two had never met, it turns out they get along very well. Cooking skills run in the family and Evelyn fits in well, teaching Sally a lot about how the blind adapt to their world.
When Sally and Evelyn return to get some things from the house, Evelyn knows that things are not in their proper places - she and her mother kept everything just so which allowed Evelyn to navigate the house. Things have been moved and she convinces Sally that her mother was murdered. Despite the police asking her to keep her nose out of things, Sally and Evelyn do their own investigation. It leads them into the cut throat world of restaurants and the pool of suspects. Who wanted Jackie Oliveri dead? Former boss? ex husband? Rival in the restaurant business? As Sally and Evelyn get closer to the killer, the focus turns to Sally and almost kills her.
This may be the fourth book in the series but it stands alone very well. The mystery has everything required in a good cozy - twists, turns and red herrings.
My cooking skills are average at best but that doesn't stop me from drooling over culinary mysteries and the yummy recipes at the end of the book. If Gaugin was a real restaurant and I lived near by, I would be in there every single week if not more often. Besides the great food, the company would be great.
My thanks to the publisher, Crooked Lane and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
When Sally and Evelyn return to get some things from the house, Evelyn knows that things are not in their proper places - she and her mother kept everything just so which allowed Evelyn to navigate the house. Things have been moved and she convinces Sally that her mother was murdered. Despite the police asking her to keep her nose out of things, Sally and Evelyn do their own investigation. It leads them into the cut throat world of restaurants and the pool of suspects. Who wanted Jackie Oliveri dead? Former boss? ex husband? Rival in the restaurant business? As Sally and Evelyn get closer to the killer, the focus turns to Sally and almost kills her.
This may be the fourth book in the series but it stands alone very well. The mystery has everything required in a good cozy - twists, turns and red herrings.
My cooking skills are average at best but that doesn't stop me from drooling over culinary mysteries and the yummy recipes at the end of the book. If Gaugin was a real restaurant and I lived near by, I would be in there every single week if not more often. Besides the great food, the company would be great.
My thanks to the publisher, Crooked Lane and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
February 18, 2019
The theme of the forth volume of the Sally Solari mystery series is touch. Hence the title “Murder from Scratch”
Karst's novel features Evelyn (Evie) a distant relative of Sally. Blind from birth, Evie has stumbled over her mother's corpse after returning from an overnight visit. Mario, Sally's father, sheltered her after the police investigated the crime. He has a severe allergy to dogs. Evie has a dog. He asks Sally to share her home, overcoming her objections: “She's family”
To Evie's dismay, the police are sure her mother committed suicide. All the signs are there, empty pill bottles, a life in turmoil, even a note left. Unwilling to accept all this, she asks Sally for her help. Sally, of course, agrees. Together they investigate; Despite her blindness, Evie is fully integrated into the seeing world. Karst's research shows here, skillfully demonstrating that blindness need not be a block to living integrated with the rest of the world. Informally and formally she teaches, including teaching Javier to make homemade egg pasta.
At Gauguin, Javier and Sallie will formalize the partnership, maybe, Brian has become erratic. The B plot very puzzling, revealing more insider information in the restaurant industry. Murder from Scratch features restaurants who offer food from South East Asia plus a soupcon of India. The workers at these pop up and formal restaurants include many of our suspects. Here again Karst shows her strength in plotting, the perpetrator is not obvious.
Coupling and uncoupling is another theme. Is Mario dating? Where is Eric? When is a restaurant become a joint venture? Who is included in a family, who really decides concerning family membership. Karst asks the questions, leaving the reader the right to find the answers.
I enjoyed the book, and look forward to her take on the sense of smell.
Full disclosure I received this e book from netgalley.com and Crooked Lane Publishing in exchange for an unbiased review.
Karst's novel features Evelyn (Evie) a distant relative of Sally. Blind from birth, Evie has stumbled over her mother's corpse after returning from an overnight visit. Mario, Sally's father, sheltered her after the police investigated the crime. He has a severe allergy to dogs. Evie has a dog. He asks Sally to share her home, overcoming her objections: “She's family”
To Evie's dismay, the police are sure her mother committed suicide. All the signs are there, empty pill bottles, a life in turmoil, even a note left. Unwilling to accept all this, she asks Sally for her help. Sally, of course, agrees. Together they investigate; Despite her blindness, Evie is fully integrated into the seeing world. Karst's research shows here, skillfully demonstrating that blindness need not be a block to living integrated with the rest of the world. Informally and formally she teaches, including teaching Javier to make homemade egg pasta.
At Gauguin, Javier and Sallie will formalize the partnership, maybe, Brian has become erratic. The B plot very puzzling, revealing more insider information in the restaurant industry. Murder from Scratch features restaurants who offer food from South East Asia plus a soupcon of India. The workers at these pop up and formal restaurants include many of our suspects. Here again Karst shows her strength in plotting, the perpetrator is not obvious.
Coupling and uncoupling is another theme. Is Mario dating? Where is Eric? When is a restaurant become a joint venture? Who is included in a family, who really decides concerning family membership. Karst asks the questions, leaving the reader the right to find the answers.
I enjoyed the book, and look forward to her take on the sense of smell.
Full disclosure I received this e book from netgalley.com and Crooked Lane Publishing in exchange for an unbiased review.
April 17, 2019
On the back cover of Murder from Scratch by Leslie Karst Edith Maxwell is quoted saying "[A] delicious plate of mystery...Don't read while hungry !" And I can say that is a good piece of advice however I would add that having a snack handy will help. Otherwise you might find yourself putting the book down and finding yourself elbows deep into making homemade pasta.....not that that would be a bad thing but I would recommend that you finish reading the book first.
And once you start reading Murder from Scratch you fall in love with Sally's cousin Evelyn and want to help the girls find justice for Evelyn's mothers death. Sadly we do not meet Jackie but we get to know her through her daughter and we fall in love with the mother daughter duo. We cannot help but feel for Evelyn as she is the one that stumbles over her mothers body. And even though Evelyn is blind the reader will be amazed to learn how she copes with the disability and we see how the disability does not deter her at all !!!
I was a bit hesitant when I read that there was a blind character in the story and that she had a huge role in it. One of my biggest fears is becoming blind and even though that is still a huge fear, after reading about Evelyn, her friends, and the steps that they take to help with their blindness and the things that they are able to do despite it, I was encouraged. I read the Acknowledgements at the end of the book and Karst did research regarding the disability and reading the story it showed. It always amazes me when I read about the research that an author puts into a work of fiction. And I have to say that it really makes the story.
I highly recommend reading this latest book in the Sally Solari Mystery series. There is so much to love and tasty recipes at the end of the book to try. You will fall in love with Sally and her cousin and will start to look at restaurant life and blindness a bit differently and with more respect after reading it.
And once you start reading Murder from Scratch you fall in love with Sally's cousin Evelyn and want to help the girls find justice for Evelyn's mothers death. Sadly we do not meet Jackie but we get to know her through her daughter and we fall in love with the mother daughter duo. We cannot help but feel for Evelyn as she is the one that stumbles over her mothers body. And even though Evelyn is blind the reader will be amazed to learn how she copes with the disability and we see how the disability does not deter her at all !!!
I was a bit hesitant when I read that there was a blind character in the story and that she had a huge role in it. One of my biggest fears is becoming blind and even though that is still a huge fear, after reading about Evelyn, her friends, and the steps that they take to help with their blindness and the things that they are able to do despite it, I was encouraged. I read the Acknowledgements at the end of the book and Karst did research regarding the disability and reading the story it showed. It always amazes me when I read about the research that an author puts into a work of fiction. And I have to say that it really makes the story.
I highly recommend reading this latest book in the Sally Solari Mystery series. There is so much to love and tasty recipes at the end of the book to try. You will fall in love with Sally and her cousin and will start to look at restaurant life and blindness a bit differently and with more respect after reading it.
February 14, 2019
Title: Murder From Scratch
Author: Leslie Karst
Genre: Murder Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Sequel,
Plot: Sally Solari grew up in the restaurant business and is still heavily involved with it. Except instead of working for her dad in the family restaurant, she now runs her very own establishment. Inherited from a great aunt, the Gauguin is a tidy trendy little place filled with irate chefs and plenty of delicious smells. When Sally gets a craving for some family cooking, she drops by her dad's place and gets more than she bargained for. A distant cousin needs a place to live with her dog and Sally has an available couch.
It turns out that cousin Evelyn is super sweet, blind and recently in the news. Her mother was found dead in the house one day. But because of Evelyn's disability, she has plenty of reason to think her mother's death wasn't an accident. Sally, every resourceful and just a tad too nosy for her own good, takes up the case.
Likes/Dislikes: I love cozy murder mysteries and foodie stories. This sounds like the perfect combination with the added element of a blind character essential to the plot. Unfortunately, Sally didn't jump off the page at me and the mystery set up wasn't enough to hook me and draw me in to finish the story. The writing style was cozy but also a bit slow and off. It felt like a lot of the descriptions and dialogue taking place were only there to hit the word count and did nothing to paint the scene or propel the story forward. Ah well, there's always a hit and a miss with mysteries.
Rating: PG-14 and up, mainly for content (it's a murder mystery).
Date Review Written: February 14th, 2019
I received a copy of this courtesy of Netgalley for my honest opinion. I wasn't required to write a positive review and the opinions in the above review are my own.
Author: Leslie Karst
Genre: Murder Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Sequel,
Plot: Sally Solari grew up in the restaurant business and is still heavily involved with it. Except instead of working for her dad in the family restaurant, she now runs her very own establishment. Inherited from a great aunt, the Gauguin is a tidy trendy little place filled with irate chefs and plenty of delicious smells. When Sally gets a craving for some family cooking, she drops by her dad's place and gets more than she bargained for. A distant cousin needs a place to live with her dog and Sally has an available couch.
It turns out that cousin Evelyn is super sweet, blind and recently in the news. Her mother was found dead in the house one day. But because of Evelyn's disability, she has plenty of reason to think her mother's death wasn't an accident. Sally, every resourceful and just a tad too nosy for her own good, takes up the case.
Likes/Dislikes: I love cozy murder mysteries and foodie stories. This sounds like the perfect combination with the added element of a blind character essential to the plot. Unfortunately, Sally didn't jump off the page at me and the mystery set up wasn't enough to hook me and draw me in to finish the story. The writing style was cozy but also a bit slow and off. It felt like a lot of the descriptions and dialogue taking place were only there to hit the word count and did nothing to paint the scene or propel the story forward. Ah well, there's always a hit and a miss with mysteries.
Rating: PG-14 and up, mainly for content (it's a murder mystery).
Date Review Written: February 14th, 2019
I received a copy of this courtesy of Netgalley for my honest opinion. I wasn't required to write a positive review and the opinions in the above review are my own.
December 7, 2019
( Format : Audiobook )
"Pasta with peas, onion, porcini and garlic."
Not to be read on an empty stomach. Murder from Scratch is a tasty, lightweight cozy with such mouthwatering references it almost qualifies to be thought of as food pornography. Sally Solari inherited a restaurant, Gauguin, from her aunt a few months previously. It's a bit of a family tradition, it seems - her father is a chef, as was her grandmother and aunt, and this latter has just died, an apparent suicide, who leaves behind a twenty years o!d, blind daughter, Evelyn. When cousin Evie moves in with Sally, briefly, she shows that she, too, creates fabulous fresh pasta. Oh, and yes, she believes her mother's death must have been murder.
The book is great fun, delicious for foodies, with some characters beginning to lift themselves off of the page to become realistic people: nice little vignettes. And if the plot is rather weak and not verybelievable, it really doesn't matter as it feels very secondary to the book as awhole. The fourth in the series, it is completely stand alone. Narrator Adrienne Corvette reads well, clearly and with good intonation, and gives separate voice to each protagonist, although she has difficulty portraying the male protagonists believably. Playing the recording at 1.25 speed also helps to compensate for the rather slow delivery.Sent
I was fortunate in being freely gifted with a complimentary copy of Murder from Scratch by the rights holder at my request. Thank you - it was very enjoyable. The book concludes with five clearly given recipes, at least two of which I definitely intend to try. If you enjoy reading about food, this is definitely a book for you, and murder mystery fans will probably enjoy it, too. Recommended.
"Pasta with peas, onion, porcini and garlic."
Not to be read on an empty stomach. Murder from Scratch is a tasty, lightweight cozy with such mouthwatering references it almost qualifies to be thought of as food pornography. Sally Solari inherited a restaurant, Gauguin, from her aunt a few months previously. It's a bit of a family tradition, it seems - her father is a chef, as was her grandmother and aunt, and this latter has just died, an apparent suicide, who leaves behind a twenty years o!d, blind daughter, Evelyn. When cousin Evie moves in with Sally, briefly, she shows that she, too, creates fabulous fresh pasta. Oh, and yes, she believes her mother's death must have been murder.
The book is great fun, delicious for foodies, with some characters beginning to lift themselves off of the page to become realistic people: nice little vignettes. And if the plot is rather weak and not verybelievable, it really doesn't matter as it feels very secondary to the book as awhole. The fourth in the series, it is completely stand alone. Narrator Adrienne Corvette reads well, clearly and with good intonation, and gives separate voice to each protagonist, although she has difficulty portraying the male protagonists believably. Playing the recording at 1.25 speed also helps to compensate for the rather slow delivery.Sent
I was fortunate in being freely gifted with a complimentary copy of Murder from Scratch by the rights holder at my request. Thank you - it was very enjoyable. The book concludes with five clearly given recipes, at least two of which I definitely intend to try. If you enjoy reading about food, this is definitely a book for you, and murder mystery fans will probably enjoy it, too. Recommended.
June 26, 2019
If you’re hungry - especially for Indian or Southeastern Asian food - DO NOT READ THIS BOOK, lol. It is a great cozy mystery set in a restaurant and starring people who love to cook, so there’s so many delicious food descriptions and even some recipes at the end of the book. You will be craving more of the series and an order of spring rolls by the time you’re done!
As an aside, this book is the fourth in a series, but I had no problem reading it as a standalone.
The book’s main character is Sally Solari, who is owner of Gauguin, a Creole restaurant who comes from a large Italian family. She needs to take in her blind cousin, Evelyn, when her aunt is found dead in their home. But even though police are convinced it was a suicide, Evelyn is convinced her mother would never do such a thing. After a series of weird events, Sally is also convinced someone is hiding something, and the pair begin to investigate Jackie’s death. Turns out, there are plenty of people who could have wanted Jackie dead.
The characters in this book are really great - I liked Sally and Evelyn, both as a detective pair and as characters. They were worth rooting for. I’m excited to see where they go after this, especially Sally’s personal life, which some subplots dealt with (and there were some big developments at the end there!).
The mystery itself was good - it was a classic whodunnit, with plenty of suspects and motives. The ending was satisfying, and it made sense putting everything together. That’s really all you can ask for in a book like this.
Overall, I would recommend this as a great beach/vacation read or a good cozy mystery for a night in.
As an aside, this book is the fourth in a series, but I had no problem reading it as a standalone.
The book’s main character is Sally Solari, who is owner of Gauguin, a Creole restaurant who comes from a large Italian family. She needs to take in her blind cousin, Evelyn, when her aunt is found dead in their home. But even though police are convinced it was a suicide, Evelyn is convinced her mother would never do such a thing. After a series of weird events, Sally is also convinced someone is hiding something, and the pair begin to investigate Jackie’s death. Turns out, there are plenty of people who could have wanted Jackie dead.
The characters in this book are really great - I liked Sally and Evelyn, both as a detective pair and as characters. They were worth rooting for. I’m excited to see where they go after this, especially Sally’s personal life, which some subplots dealt with (and there were some big developments at the end there!).
The mystery itself was good - it was a classic whodunnit, with plenty of suspects and motives. The ending was satisfying, and it made sense putting everything together. That’s really all you can ask for in a book like this.
Overall, I would recommend this as a great beach/vacation read or a good cozy mystery for a night in.
February 15, 2019
Sally's next case has a family connection. Sally's dad asks her to take in her blind cousin Evelyn and her dog Caro, after her mother Jackie was found dead of a suspected overdose. Sally is glad to oblige and finds that she enjoys Evelyn's company.
When they make a quick trip back to Evelyn's house to gather more of her things, Evelyn discovers a number of things out of place. She and her mother always kept things in the same place so that Evie could find them. And when she is told the contents of her mom's supposed suicide note, Evie becomes convinced that her mother was murdered.
There are lots of suspects and Sally soon finds herself deep into another murder investigation. Could it be the owner of Tamarind, the restaurant Jackie left to start her own pop-up restaurant? Could it be the ex-husband who has been paying spousal support and who owns half of their house? Could it be the former friend that she fired from her job in her pop-up? Could it be the friend who got Jackie the job at Tamarind?
Between the descriptions of the delicious meals that are cooked at Sally's restaurant Gauguin or at Tamarind or at the new pop-up restaurant, Sally keeps busy checking alibis and frustrating Detective Martin Vargas who really wants her to keep out of the investigation.
This was an entertaining mystery filled with interesting characters and great food. The recipes at the end sound really tasty but a bit above my cooking level.
When they make a quick trip back to Evelyn's house to gather more of her things, Evelyn discovers a number of things out of place. She and her mother always kept things in the same place so that Evie could find them. And when she is told the contents of her mom's supposed suicide note, Evie becomes convinced that her mother was murdered.
There are lots of suspects and Sally soon finds herself deep into another murder investigation. Could it be the owner of Tamarind, the restaurant Jackie left to start her own pop-up restaurant? Could it be the ex-husband who has been paying spousal support and who owns half of their house? Could it be the former friend that she fired from her job in her pop-up? Could it be the friend who got Jackie the job at Tamarind?
Between the descriptions of the delicious meals that are cooked at Sally's restaurant Gauguin or at Tamarind or at the new pop-up restaurant, Sally keeps busy checking alibis and frustrating Detective Martin Vargas who really wants her to keep out of the investigation.
This was an entertaining mystery filled with interesting characters and great food. The recipes at the end sound really tasty but a bit above my cooking level.
December 24, 2018
Sally’s long lost cousin Evie comes to stay with the only family she has left when her Mother dies. While Evie is blind, she sees things fat more clearly than others and, to her, it’s clear her mother did NOT commit suicide as the police think. While there are several people who were not happy with the woman, who had a beef big enough to kill her?
Always tip toeing around police investigations, Sally finds herself poking around this one as well. Between Dally and Evie, the two find several suspects but can’t seem to find the evidence they need to narrow it down to the actual murderer. But as they get close, Sally is in greater danger as she has killer in her sights. It’s a race against time to identify the killer before Sally becomes the next victim.
In addition to the mystery portion of the story line, there are a lot of other things going on with the all of the regular characters as love is in the air, partnerships are formed, and friendships, both old and new, reign supreme.
If you’ve read the other books in th series, you will enjoy this one. If this is your first introduction to Sally and the gang in Santa Cruz, you will enjoy this one and have no problem with not having read the first two in the series. Just be prepared to get some Asian food, because you will be craving it by the time you finish this one.
Always tip toeing around police investigations, Sally finds herself poking around this one as well. Between Dally and Evie, the two find several suspects but can’t seem to find the evidence they need to narrow it down to the actual murderer. But as they get close, Sally is in greater danger as she has killer in her sights. It’s a race against time to identify the killer before Sally becomes the next victim.
In addition to the mystery portion of the story line, there are a lot of other things going on with the all of the regular characters as love is in the air, partnerships are formed, and friendships, both old and new, reign supreme.
If you’ve read the other books in th series, you will enjoy this one. If this is your first introduction to Sally and the gang in Santa Cruz, you will enjoy this one and have no problem with not having read the first two in the series. Just be prepared to get some Asian food, because you will be craving it by the time you finish this one.
November 22, 2019
I enjoyed this book. I liked the insight into the life of a blind person and the fact that she found some of the clues or evidence that solved the case. The characters were like able and the mystery plot was good too. There was plenty of suspects to keep you guessing, just don't listen if you are hungry because they talk about food a lot and even give you some recipes at the end of the story.
Family stick together, that's what Sally is finding out when her Dad asks her if the cousin she has never met can stay with her. Evelyn has just found her mother dead in there family home of an apparent drug over dose and Evelyn who is blind is rightly uncomfortable stay at home, while the police carry out an investigation. The problem is dissipate knowing her mum was having problems at work Evelyn doesn't believe her mum used drugs or would take her own life. Sally busy at work running a restaurant and sorting out all problems that entails still finds time to help her cousin. Can the pair prove to the police that suicide was not an option for the single mum? Or better yet find the killer?
I liked the narrator and thought she did an excellent job with all the voices she had to do.
I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
Family stick together, that's what Sally is finding out when her Dad asks her if the cousin she has never met can stay with her. Evelyn has just found her mother dead in there family home of an apparent drug over dose and Evelyn who is blind is rightly uncomfortable stay at home, while the police carry out an investigation. The problem is dissipate knowing her mum was having problems at work Evelyn doesn't believe her mum used drugs or would take her own life. Sally busy at work running a restaurant and sorting out all problems that entails still finds time to help her cousin. Can the pair prove to the police that suicide was not an option for the single mum? Or better yet find the killer?
I liked the narrator and thought she did an excellent job with all the voices she had to do.
I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
February 19, 2019
This latest Sally Solari mystery is an entertaining read. As with many series entries, it would probably be beneficial to read them all for background, but I think this could work as a standalone as the author provides family and setting background.
Sally is a restaurateur in Santa Cruz. She and her father, also a restaurant owner, are saddened to discover that a distant relation has died, possibly by suicide, and left a 20 year old daughter. The daughter, Evelyn, discovered her mother's body and needs a place to stay while things are being sorted out. Evelyn is blind and is studying computer science. The matter of fact information about tech aids for the blind and just daily accommodations are interesting.
Evelyn is convinced that her mother was murdered and the more Sally learns about the circumstances of her death, the more she agrees. There are several possible suspects and Evelyn and Sally go about gathering information to determine who the killer is.
The wonderful food and restaurant setting and recipes are an added bonus. Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in return for my honest review.
Sally is a restaurateur in Santa Cruz. She and her father, also a restaurant owner, are saddened to discover that a distant relation has died, possibly by suicide, and left a 20 year old daughter. The daughter, Evelyn, discovered her mother's body and needs a place to stay while things are being sorted out. Evelyn is blind and is studying computer science. The matter of fact information about tech aids for the blind and just daily accommodations are interesting.
Evelyn is convinced that her mother was murdered and the more Sally learns about the circumstances of her death, the more she agrees. There are several possible suspects and Evelyn and Sally go about gathering information to determine who the killer is.
The wonderful food and restaurant setting and recipes are an added bonus. Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in return for my honest review.
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