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Whipped and Sipped #2
Smothered
When the owner of the business next door is found dead in his Chicago office, Alene Baron is relieved. She's been suspicious of the food supplements he’s been selling, not to mention the smoothies he's been hawking, which are much inferior to the ones Alene sells at the Whipped and Sipped Café. Plus, Stanley Huff never cleaned up his garbage in their shared alley. As a shady businessman, Stanley had enemies, but now one of Alene's favorite employees is a suspect in his murder. And that employee is missing.
Smothered: A Whipped and Sipped Mystery includes 22 of the author's best, healthy and delicious recipes!
Smothered: A Whipped and Sipped Mystery includes 22 of the author's best, healthy and delicious recipes!
- GenresMystery
256 pages, ebook
Published February 16, 2021
12 people are currently reading
43 people want to read
About the author
G.P. Gottlieb
4 books72 followersG.P. Gottlieb (https://gpgottlieb.com) is the author of Battered, Smothered, and Charred, the first three Whipped & Sipped Mysteries now being reissued by Anam Cara Press (with sexy new covers)! Please don't buy the old versions - the evil successor of my first publisher has stolen every penny since 2023! Hm. An idea for a new mystery....
Follow gpgottlieb.com to see her essays, over 250 podcast author interviews, book reviews, book updates, and recipes. When not reading or writing, she enjoys feeding her kids and grandbabies, walking, baking, attending concerts and plays, and traveling with her partner of 32 years.
Follow gpgottlieb.com to see her essays, over 250 podcast author interviews, book reviews, book updates, and recipes. When not reading or writing, she enjoys feeding her kids and grandbabies, walking, baking, attending concerts and plays, and traveling with her partner of 32 years.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
February 17, 2021
Alene Baron is finding herself irritated by Stanley Huff, who owns the gym next door to Arlene’s café. Not only is he an inconsiderate neighbor, but Alene questions some of the things he sells. Alene is shocked when she finds him dead one morning. When the police begin to look at one of Arlene’s employees as a suspect, she can’t help but try to learn what really happened. Can she uncover the truth?
This was definitely a mixed book for me. Most of my issues were things that could have been smoothed over with a strong edit – a few dropped plot threads, the dreaded timeline issues, and a few conversations that were summarized for us instead of including us in them. On the other hand, there were things I enjoyed. We have a large cast of characters. Since it had been a while since book one, I had to remember who every was again (the cast of characters at the beginning helped), but once I did that, I appreciate the growth in the characters we saw here. The heart of the mystery was good, and I especially appreciated how Alene figured it out, which lead to an entertaining climax. Alene’s café features vegan recipes, so the recipes we get at the end are vegan as well. If you enjoyed the first, you’ll want to pick this up and see what happens to the characters next.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
This was definitely a mixed book for me. Most of my issues were things that could have been smoothed over with a strong edit – a few dropped plot threads, the dreaded timeline issues, and a few conversations that were summarized for us instead of including us in them. On the other hand, there were things I enjoyed. We have a large cast of characters. Since it had been a while since book one, I had to remember who every was again (the cast of characters at the beginning helped), but once I did that, I appreciate the growth in the characters we saw here. The heart of the mystery was good, and I especially appreciated how Alene figured it out, which lead to an entertaining climax. Alene’s café features vegan recipes, so the recipes we get at the end are vegan as well. If you enjoyed the first, you’ll want to pick this up and see what happens to the characters next.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
February 15, 2021
Alene is back with her vegetarian/vegan cafe and coffeehouse, a cast of intriguing characters, and a mystery that you may or may not be able to solve before all is revealed.
I'm thankful that the author provides a list of characters at the beginning of the book with a brief bio on each one because there are many characters to keep straight! If you have read the first book, Battered, you will recognize many from that book, but there are many new characters to make this mystery interesting. There are characters that will make you crazy, some that you will empathize with, and others that you will love.
There are quite a few storylines in this book. There is the murder, disappearance of one of the staff from the cafe, Alene's father's stay in the hospital, and the budding romance between Alene and Frank.
There are quite a few red herrings in the book and I never would have suspected the killer. There are a few clues peppered throughout the book, but not many. Alene jumps to a lot of conclusions and never quite gets it right until the end and thankfully doesn't put herself in too much danger.
I think my favorite character might be Cal, Alene's father. He is suffering from a debilitating disease but has such a great outlook on life and what he is going through.
I do enjoy the Chicago setting and based on what I read, it sounds like most everything for Alene is close to where she lives and I feel like I am able to take a peek into her world.
This is a fun new series and we give it 4 paws up.
I'm thankful that the author provides a list of characters at the beginning of the book with a brief bio on each one because there are many characters to keep straight! If you have read the first book, Battered, you will recognize many from that book, but there are many new characters to make this mystery interesting. There are characters that will make you crazy, some that you will empathize with, and others that you will love.
There are quite a few storylines in this book. There is the murder, disappearance of one of the staff from the cafe, Alene's father's stay in the hospital, and the budding romance between Alene and Frank.
There are quite a few red herrings in the book and I never would have suspected the killer. There are a few clues peppered throughout the book, but not many. Alene jumps to a lot of conclusions and never quite gets it right until the end and thankfully doesn't put herself in too much danger.
I think my favorite character might be Cal, Alene's father. He is suffering from a debilitating disease but has such a great outlook on life and what he is going through.
I do enjoy the Chicago setting and based on what I read, it sounds like most everything for Alene is close to where she lives and I feel like I am able to take a peek into her world.
This is a fun new series and we give it 4 paws up.
February 20, 2021
Smothered by G.P. Gottlieb is the second book in the Whipped and Sipped Mysteries. Gottlieb provides the reader with a cast of characters at the beginning of the book, which I highly recommend you read. There are a lot of characters in the first three chapters or so and I found myself reading very slowly and checking the character list to make sure I understood who was who. I was able to pick up reading speed after a bit and the characters were easier to remember who everyone was.
Gottlieb does an excellent job portraying a single mother with three kids and an ageing father with medical conditions. I fell a lot of people my age and older (even younger) will find a kinship with Alene and her day to day struggles to keep her life running sort of smoothly… and then you throw in trying to solve and murder mystery, and Wow! Never a dull moment.
Towards the end when you have that a-ha moment as to why the book is titled the way it is, was fun. And the final murder reveal was a twist and diferent then any cozy mystery endings that I can remember reading… which is also fun.
If you’re looking for a cozy series with lots of characters, like a classic Agatha Christie novel, you should give the Whipped and Sipped Mysteries a try, with Battered being the first in the series.
Gottlieb does an excellent job portraying a single mother with three kids and an ageing father with medical conditions. I fell a lot of people my age and older (even younger) will find a kinship with Alene and her day to day struggles to keep her life running sort of smoothly… and then you throw in trying to solve and murder mystery, and Wow! Never a dull moment.
Towards the end when you have that a-ha moment as to why the book is titled the way it is, was fun. And the final murder reveal was a twist and diferent then any cozy mystery endings that I can remember reading… which is also fun.
If you’re looking for a cozy series with lots of characters, like a classic Agatha Christie novel, you should give the Whipped and Sipped Mysteries a try, with Battered being the first in the series.
February 12, 2023
An average mystery with lots of characters.
I’m grateful the author included a list of characters at the beginning of the book. However, even with the list, I had to keep going back and seeing who was who, which then interrupted the flow of the story. I didn’t care for the protagonist, Alene, which didn’t help my view of the story. The book was ok to read, but nothing special. It wasn’t for me.
My review is voluntary and all comments and opinions expressed are
my own.
I’m grateful the author included a list of characters at the beginning of the book. However, even with the list, I had to keep going back and seeing who was who, which then interrupted the flow of the story. I didn’t care for the protagonist, Alene, which didn’t help my view of the story. The book was ok to read, but nothing special. It wasn’t for me.
My review is voluntary and all comments and opinions expressed are
my own.
September 3, 2022
At the gym, cafe, or apartment building, Alene, protagonist and resident sleuth, has her finger on the neighborhood’s pulse. Both the upside and downside—the lowdown side! The author masterfully portrays the inner workings of relationships and what makes people tick in this mystery that grabbed my attention and held it.
October 8, 2025
I feel life the conversations are just really inorganic.
December 19, 2023
Would not have read the second book of this series if it wasn’t for my work book club.
February 18, 2021
One thing readers will love when they read Smothered by G.P. Gottlieb is that there is a list of characters in the front of the book so that readers can turn to it whenever they need to check on a person. And with this cast of characters you are going to want to make sure you know who is who and who is related to or knows who.
In Smothered readers are going to want to make sure they have a drink and a snack on hand because you are going to be spending a lot of time in the Whipped and Sipped Cafe where everything sounds delicious !! You will be working along side Alene Baron, the owner of the cafe, as she navigates being a single mom to three kids, taking care of her elderly father, runs the cafe and tries to have a relationship with homicide detective Frank Shaw. Unfortunately besides her having a busy life, Alene seems to get in the middle of a murder.
When Kacey, an employee at the cafe, goes into the alley behind the cafe and screams, everyone comes running. They find the door to the fitness center, Better Be Fit, open and the owner, Stanley lying on the floor. It doesn't take long to realize that he's dead. Alene cannot help but continue to question everything about his death, especially because she knows Stanley's wife.
When Alene's dad, Cal, ends up in the hospital and Stanley's widow, Sylvie, ends up in the room next to him Alene gets to know the family a little more than she would have liked. Sadly everyone begins to look guilty in her eyes and when she learns one of her employees is related to the family and goes missing, she cannot stop from asking questions.
Gottlieb sets the stage beautifully for readers and with providing the list of characters in the beginning, you have your own little cheat sheet of sorts. And with all the twists and turns in Smothered you will be grateful to have the list so that you can keep track of everyone and check off those you believe are innocent. However when the real killer is revealed I'm sure you will be as shocked as I was because I'm certain they weren't even on your radar.
In Smothered readers are going to want to make sure they have a drink and a snack on hand because you are going to be spending a lot of time in the Whipped and Sipped Cafe where everything sounds delicious !! You will be working along side Alene Baron, the owner of the cafe, as she navigates being a single mom to three kids, taking care of her elderly father, runs the cafe and tries to have a relationship with homicide detective Frank Shaw. Unfortunately besides her having a busy life, Alene seems to get in the middle of a murder.
When Kacey, an employee at the cafe, goes into the alley behind the cafe and screams, everyone comes running. They find the door to the fitness center, Better Be Fit, open and the owner, Stanley lying on the floor. It doesn't take long to realize that he's dead. Alene cannot help but continue to question everything about his death, especially because she knows Stanley's wife.
When Alene's dad, Cal, ends up in the hospital and Stanley's widow, Sylvie, ends up in the room next to him Alene gets to know the family a little more than she would have liked. Sadly everyone begins to look guilty in her eyes and when she learns one of her employees is related to the family and goes missing, she cannot stop from asking questions.
Gottlieb sets the stage beautifully for readers and with providing the list of characters in the beginning, you have your own little cheat sheet of sorts. And with all the twists and turns in Smothered you will be grateful to have the list so that you can keep track of everyone and check off those you believe are innocent. However when the real killer is revealed I'm sure you will be as shocked as I was because I'm certain they weren't even on your radar.
March 11, 2023
Did not finish because reading it felt like punishment.
After the owner of next door’s business is found dead Alene gets a bee in her bonnet about finding out who killed him. Actually, there is a lot Alene has a bee in her bonnet about. Rarely have I read about a character that was so judgemental of everyone around her: her employees, her kids, even her customers. I think about the only people that get a pass are her father Cal and her friend Ruthie (but Ruthie seems to be perfect, so there wasn’t anything to judge).
This story could use a good edit. The narrative is rather choppy, yanking the reader from Alene’s thoughts to an unrelated mention of what someone one is doing. Plus there are little mistakes, such as that a customer orders green tea, but a page an a half later drinks her black coffee.
It could definitely do with an edit to make Alene a more sympathetic character. She's that nasty gossipy neighbour when she's weighing the options how each of the people she knows could have been a killer.
And can someone explain how Alene can serve a vegan omelet at her restaurant? The rule of thumb is that you can’t make an omelet without breaking some eggs.
I received an ARC through NetGalley.
After the owner of next door’s business is found dead Alene gets a bee in her bonnet about finding out who killed him. Actually, there is a lot Alene has a bee in her bonnet about. Rarely have I read about a character that was so judgemental of everyone around her: her employees, her kids, even her customers. I think about the only people that get a pass are her father Cal and her friend Ruthie (but Ruthie seems to be perfect, so there wasn’t anything to judge).
This story could use a good edit. The narrative is rather choppy, yanking the reader from Alene’s thoughts to an unrelated mention of what someone one is doing. Plus there are little mistakes, such as that a customer orders green tea, but a page an a half later drinks her black coffee.
It could definitely do with an edit to make Alene a more sympathetic character. She's that nasty gossipy neighbour when she's weighing the options how each of the people she knows could have been a killer.
And can someone explain how Alene can serve a vegan omelet at her restaurant? The rule of thumb is that you can’t make an omelet without breaking some eggs.
I received an ARC through NetGalley.
January 30, 2023
Like a telenovela without the subtitles.
I wanted very much to like this book more than I did. By the time I got to page 20, I had been introduced to twice that many characters, in such a way that assumed you had read the other books in the series.
I had not read them.
What struck me most was the main character’s judgmental and critical demeanor. Every other sentence was how Alene needed to fix someone, speak to someone, train her employees on basic kindness and other criticisms. Simply put, Alene was unlikable, and that makes for a difficult read.
I’m commend the author on their thorough description and vibe within the cafe, but the action was dragged through the mud of these critical side comments, and dramatis personae longer than my arm!
I could keep track of everyone in the book, so the killer revealed was not exciting; merely confusing.
Perhaps a better read with the context of the other books in the series. But this book was not for me.
I wanted very much to like this book more than I did. By the time I got to page 20, I had been introduced to twice that many characters, in such a way that assumed you had read the other books in the series.
I had not read them.
What struck me most was the main character’s judgmental and critical demeanor. Every other sentence was how Alene needed to fix someone, speak to someone, train her employees on basic kindness and other criticisms. Simply put, Alene was unlikable, and that makes for a difficult read.
I’m commend the author on their thorough description and vibe within the cafe, but the action was dragged through the mud of these critical side comments, and dramatis personae longer than my arm!
I could keep track of everyone in the book, so the killer revealed was not exciting; merely confusing.
Perhaps a better read with the context of the other books in the series. But this book was not for me.
February 26, 2021
The second title in the delightful Whipped and Sipped Mystery series fines Alene balancing being a single parent of three, helping her father with serious health issues and trying to keep a relationship with a police officer going. When a man at a neighboring business to her cafe is killed, she adds investigating to her tasks.
There are lots of characters here, but somehow it adds to the feel of a busy life and a bustling cafe. The different employees have secrets and squabbles, and Alene sorts those, even from her father's hospital room.
Stanley, the deceased, may not be missed by many, but Alene cares more about his trans daughter, who goes missing, and his wife who says crazy things at some times, and accurate things at others.
Gottlieb infuses empathy and clever red herrings into the fun Smothered. I'm looking forward to the next one!
There are lots of characters here, but somehow it adds to the feel of a busy life and a bustling cafe. The different employees have secrets and squabbles, and Alene sorts those, even from her father's hospital room.
Stanley, the deceased, may not be missed by many, but Alene cares more about his trans daughter, who goes missing, and his wife who says crazy things at some times, and accurate things at others.
Gottlieb infuses empathy and clever red herrings into the fun Smothered. I'm looking forward to the next one!
January 13, 2024
I received this book from G.P. Gottlieb and Booksgosocial as and eArc for my honest review any opinions that come from this review are my own. Thank you to both the Author and the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read this book.
It was the cover and the title of this book that pulled me in first if I am going to be completely honest.
this was a very quick and easy cozy mystery that contained recipes I have not tried them but I love that they do.
This book contains a lot of twists and turns and plenty of stories to keep you intrigued. FYI this book contains lots of characters and lots of side stories. In some ways it felt a little all over the place in other ways it seemed to tie together. The main character Alene seemed a little messy and judgmental to me she wasn't very likeable in my eyes. But overall the book was okay.
It was the cover and the title of this book that pulled me in first if I am going to be completely honest.
this was a very quick and easy cozy mystery that contained recipes I have not tried them but I love that they do.
This book contains a lot of twists and turns and plenty of stories to keep you intrigued. FYI this book contains lots of characters and lots of side stories. In some ways it felt a little all over the place in other ways it seemed to tie together. The main character Alene seemed a little messy and judgmental to me she wasn't very likeable in my eyes. But overall the book was okay.
January 24, 2021
Smothered was a pretty good read. I really enjoyed this one.
Lots of details and side stories involving the main characters were included. At first, I wondered if this inclusion was necessary, but by the end of the book I felt as though I knew and understood the characters much better.
I'll admit that I was completely thrown off guard by the ending. I definitely was not expecting this particular outcome. The way the story is written, I had already concluded in my head how it was going to end, so this ending seemed to come out of nowhere for me. The book is full of surprises that way.
Overall, with all of the twists and turns, it was a very good book.
I received an advance readers copy of the book, and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
Lots of details and side stories involving the main characters were included. At first, I wondered if this inclusion was necessary, but by the end of the book I felt as though I knew and understood the characters much better.
I'll admit that I was completely thrown off guard by the ending. I definitely was not expecting this particular outcome. The way the story is written, I had already concluded in my head how it was going to end, so this ending seemed to come out of nowhere for me. The book is full of surprises that way.
Overall, with all of the twists and turns, it was a very good book.
I received an advance readers copy of the book, and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
January 18, 2023
This was a whole bunch of fun! A new, to me, author, new characters and one heck of a whodunit with enough red herrings and rabbit holes that I was completely guessing and second guessing myself the whole way through. Just wish I had discovered this series far sooner! But I’ll remedy that with the first book in the series and am looking forward to the third entry due out soon.
Thank heavens for the list of characters in front of the book, there are a lot of characters and that means you will find some that are quirky, some that you tolerate and some that you just outright love! Give it a read, you are going to love it!
Thank heavens for the list of characters in front of the book, there are a lot of characters and that means you will find some that are quirky, some that you tolerate and some that you just outright love! Give it a read, you are going to love it!
January 26, 2023
I saw a lot of good reviews for this book so I was excited! I agree it was a cosy read and I’m not sure if it’s because I didn’t read the first book? But I Just found it to be really long winded. Especially the long list of characters. I did appreciate the character list but even then trying to keep up with who was who - I mean you get to know people as you go but there were many times I just wasn’t bothered to figure out who someone was.
The actual mystery plot line was okay, it was a bit of a twist but not super crazy. Maybe this just wasn’t a book for me. I’m sure others will enjoy.
Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy!
The actual mystery plot line was okay, it was a bit of a twist but not super crazy. Maybe this just wasn’t a book for me. I’m sure others will enjoy.
Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy!
March 2, 2023
Alene Baron is busy working at her vegan Whipped and Sipped Cafe when a staff member finds the body of fitness business owner dead next door. Alene's police boyfriend Frank is in charge of the investigation. Alene keeps pondering about possible suspects amongst the quarrelsome family members while dealing with her own three kids and ailing father.
Although the story had promise, the book really needed a good edit to tighten up the story. There was a lot of meandering and barbed dialogue amongst the cafe staff that bogged down the flow of the story and there were way too many characters.
I received a digital ARC from Netgalley and BooksGoSocial. All opinions are my own.
Although the story had promise, the book really needed a good edit to tighten up the story. There was a lot of meandering and barbed dialogue amongst the cafe staff that bogged down the flow of the story and there were way too many characters.
I received a digital ARC from Netgalley and BooksGoSocial. All opinions are my own.
January 19, 2023
Not sure if the online copy I was provided was the issue, but if it wasn't, this whole book could use a massive do-over in editing. There were a lot of grammar problems, double words, missing words, or quotes that didn't have a finish. There were also sections that could be cut to make the storyline more consistent.
I wanted to enjoy the cast of characters, but there were too many to keep track of and care about. I enjoyed Cal the most though.
I would have given 4 stars if there weren't so many editing issues. Thank you NetGalley for letting me read an advanced copy.
I wanted to enjoy the cast of characters, but there were too many to keep track of and care about. I enjoyed Cal the most though.
I would have given 4 stars if there weren't so many editing issues. Thank you NetGalley for letting me read an advanced copy.
January 24, 2021
G. P. Gottlieb's cozy, Smothered, is an entertaining read with a very big cast of characters. I'm happy to say the author has provided a character list at the front of the novel for the reader's convenience. Cafe owner Alene Baron is only one of many suspects in the murder of the gym owner next door, and almost everyone has a reason to see the awful guy dead. I did not figure out who the killer was before the end of the book. This is the second novel in the Whipped and Sipped series.
February 10, 2021
Here's more about Alene, the cafe-owner, chef, and amateur sleuth whom we met in Battered. Multiple interesting characters with their own stories, lots of delicious food, and a growing romance with the professional detective all make this an enjoyable follow-up to the first of the Whipped and Sipped series. (Note - I received a preview copy of this book)
February 13, 2023
For such a lighthearted cover, this was really a downer of a cozy. Our MC is very pessimistic and extremely suspicious. I had a really hard time finishing this one, but the mystery was interesting enough that I was yes to get to the conclusion. That said, I will not be revisit these characters in another book.
March 25, 2023
It doesn't feel like Alene is investigating. She is just concerned. Her life is busy, her family is a handful and business is booming. Then the owner next door dies. How can she not be concerned? The story has lots of side stories that all play out in good detail. It makes for an interesting lead. Doesn't hurt that her boyfriend is a detective, does it! A good story!
February 13, 2023
It was okay but to many characters, it was confusing for me to see who was related to who, I found the kids a bit annoying and the FMC a bit immature.
Thank you to netgalley and the author for eARC.
Thank you to netgalley and the author for eARC.
March 25, 2021
Review to follow on gottawritenetwork.com.
July 3, 2023
This was an excellent cozy mystery! Do you want a cozy series with lots of characters, like a classic Agatha Christie novel? You should give this book a try. You’ll really like it, especially if you can follow multiple storylines that involve murder, disappearances, family situations, and budding romances.
This is the second book in the Whipped and Sipped Mysteries series (Battered is the first) and Gottlieb provides a list of characters at the beginning with a brief bio on each. I was able to pick up reading speed after a few chapters and the characters were easy to keep sorted (thanks, G.P.!).
Alene owns a vegetarian/vegan cafe and coffeehouse. She is accompanied by a cast of delightfully intriguing, varied characters and a mystery you may (or may not!) be able to solve before all is revealed.
I really enjoyed her father’s outlook on life and his situation. Being set in the big city of Chicago, I admire Gottlieb’s ability to keep locations close, enabling the reader to feel more in-tune with Alene’s world.
This book was a new-to-me author, new characters, and one helluva of a whodunit paired with red herrings and rabbit holes galore. I was left guessing and second guessing myself the entire way through. I’ll have to give the rest of the books in the series a try!
Thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for α complimentary digital copy!
This is the second book in the Whipped and Sipped Mysteries series (Battered is the first) and Gottlieb provides a list of characters at the beginning with a brief bio on each. I was able to pick up reading speed after a few chapters and the characters were easy to keep sorted (thanks, G.P.!).
Alene owns a vegetarian/vegan cafe and coffeehouse. She is accompanied by a cast of delightfully intriguing, varied characters and a mystery you may (or may not!) be able to solve before all is revealed.
I really enjoyed her father’s outlook on life and his situation. Being set in the big city of Chicago, I admire Gottlieb’s ability to keep locations close, enabling the reader to feel more in-tune with Alene’s world.
This book was a new-to-me author, new characters, and one helluva of a whodunit paired with red herrings and rabbit holes galore. I was left guessing and second guessing myself the entire way through. I’ll have to give the rest of the books in the series a try!
Thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for α complimentary digital copy!
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews