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Books & Biscuits Mystery #1
Body and Soul Food
In this page-turning new mystery series, fraternal twins Keaton and Koby will pull double duty when they take down a killer while preparing to open their new bookstore and soul-food café, Books & Biscuits.
When Koby Hill and Keaton Rutledge were orphaned at age two, they were separated, but their unbreakable connection lingered. Year later, they reunite and decide to make up for lost time and capitalize on their shared interests by opening up a well-stocked bookstore and cozy soul-food café in the quaint Pacific Northwest town of Timber Lake. But this new chapter of their lives could end on a cliffhanger after Koby's foster brother is found murdered.
The murder, which occurred in public between light-rail stops, seems impossible for the police to solve. But as Keaton and Koby know, two heads are always better than one, especially when it comes to mysteries. With just a week to go before the grand opening of their new café, the twins will use their revitalized connection with each other to make sure this is the killer's final page.
When Koby Hill and Keaton Rutledge were orphaned at age two, they were separated, but their unbreakable connection lingered. Year later, they reunite and decide to make up for lost time and capitalize on their shared interests by opening up a well-stocked bookstore and cozy soul-food café in the quaint Pacific Northwest town of Timber Lake. But this new chapter of their lives could end on a cliffhanger after Koby's foster brother is found murdered.
The murder, which occurred in public between light-rail stops, seems impossible for the police to solve. But as Keaton and Koby know, two heads are always better than one, especially when it comes to mysteries. With just a week to go before the grand opening of their new café, the twins will use their revitalized connection with each other to make sure this is the killer's final page.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 9, 2021
122 people are currently reading
5268 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 290 reviews
April 8, 2022
So I wanted to love Body and Soul Food. I thought the premise was unique with the twin siblings who were separated their entire lives getting to know each other as adults. The Soul Food Book Cafe idea was unique. But Keaton was one of those not like other girls characters I hate in cozy mysteries. I don't know why we had to know she never had a boyfriend and never went to parties and goes to bed early and is the perfect quiet little librarian stereotype. The mystery was also confusing and hard to follow. It was very wordy too which I feel could've been fixed in editing.
February 1, 2023
I really enjoyed this first in a new cozy series! The protagonists are fraternal twins, separated as babies. The girl was adopted, and the boy was raised in foster homes. Kody found out he had a sister and searched until he found Keaton. Together, they open Books & Biscuits bookstore/cafe. When one of Kody’s foster brothers is murdered, Kody and Keaton are suspects and Kody won’t rest until he finds Reef’s killer.
The story pacing is fast and the plot is gripping. I absolutely didn’t want to put this book down! I highly recommend to cozy mystery readers.
The story pacing is fast and the plot is gripping. I absolutely didn’t want to put this book down! I highly recommend to cozy mystery readers.
March 7, 2022
Koby Hill and Keaton Rutledge are twins who became separated after being deposited into foster care at two years of age. They have recently reunited and are going to open a business together. Koby came up with the idea for a bookstore and soul food café. It will be opening in a just a few short weeks in Timber Lake, Washington, but there is still so much work to do. One evening, Keaton is taking the light rail from Seattle back to Timber Lake. Koby’s foster brother happens to be taking the same train and is going to meet Keaton at her stop. When Keaton steps on the train, she finds Reef dead in his seat. Koby is a natural sleuth and wants to know what happened to his foster brother. Keaton believes Reef’s death is similar to one of her favorite Agatha Christie’s books. Keaton and Koby work together to reveal Reef’s killer. Body and Soul Food by Abby Collette is the debut of A Books & Biscuits Mysteries. I liked the premise for this series. A bookstore with a soul food café run by fraternal twins. I bet as the scent of the delectable soul food wafts through the bookstore, people will be clamoring to get in the café. I enjoyed the author’s detailed descriptions of the Pacific Northwest, Timber Lake, and Books & Biscuits. Keaton is a woman after my own heart. She is a lady who loves books. Her brother convinced her to give up her job as a librarian and open a bookstore. There are a number of characters in this story. It can be difficult to keep them all straight. I like Mama Zola who raised Koby and Reef. She is the one who taught Koby how to make soul food. The death of Reef Jeffries was sad. He was such a friendly, warm character. I prefer it when the cruel or the nasty are killed off. Koby is a man who notices the details. It takes Keaton longer to put together the clues. The pair work together to find out who killed their friend. I like how Keaton’s keen sense of smell played into the story. The twins are also searching for their biological mother. Koby is determined to find the woman and get answers. He also wishes to expand his family circle. At the end we are left with a cliffhanger regarding this matter. We will have to wait for Soul of a Killer to get the answer. Body and Soul Food has a more serious tone compared to Abby Collette’s An Ice Cream Parlor Mysteries. There is some humor sprinkled here and there. Koby and Keaton are just getting to know each other. I hope we get to learn more about them in the next A Books & Biscuits Mystery. Body and Soul Food will have your mouth watering with the food descriptions. Body and Soul Food is a tempting tome with soul rolls, a bevy of books, an uncovered cousin, a curious killing, several suspicious suspects, and a searing reveal.
March 12, 2022
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Separated at the age of two Koby Hill and Keaton Rutledge come back together to realize their dreams. For Koby, that means a soul food restaurant. For Keaton, it means a bookstore. They find the perfect place in Timber Lake not far from Seattle. Keaton had been adopted and Koby lived his life in foster homes. Because of that Koby has an eclectic group he calls family. His “family” and Keaton’s “mom” are very supportive of their new venture.
Working long days to prepare for their grand opening Koby is concerned about Keaton taking public transportation home until his foster brother Reef offers to meet Keaton and see that she gets home safely. But when Keaton boards the train to meet Reef she finds that the man has been murdered. Someone on that train had to see something . . . or is one of them the killer? Koby and Keaton intend to find out, putting their lives in danger right before they are set to have their dreams come true.
What a fun theme for this new series!
Twins Koby and Keaton are wonderful characters, each with their own strengths. Strengths that seem a little backward to me but they seem to make it work. Koby is very detailed oriented and observant. Things I would usually associate with a well-read librarian like Keaton. Her strength is that she has a keen sense of smell. Something you would expect a chef to have. They both do love mysteries so they willingly become amateur sleuths to find a killer.
My favorite character though is Mama Jola. She raised both Reef and Koby and many others. She is also the one who taught Koby how to cook soul food. A stylish black woman who speaks her mind and cooks like a dream. She steps right in and almost takes over the chef position at the cafe. I think I gained weight just reading about the food she was cooking and baking. She doesn’t hit it off immediately with Keaton’s adoptive mom but soon they are fast friends encouraging their kids and helping in any way they can. While being brought up in totally different ways, these moms raised remarkable children.
The mystery was complicated because of the way the author twisted all the different characters together. A random event was not as random as originally thought. Also, people are not exactly as they seem. That all adds up to a good number of suspects. I did hone in on one individual immediately just because of their general attitude about everything but couldn’t figure out their motive so I was following all the clues right up to the end. That ending was very exciting and ended up being pretty heartwarming too.
Koby and Keaton are growing closer every day and they both would like to find their biological mom so that subplot is left open to continue into future books in the series.
Body and Soul Food has given this series a marvelous start and I am looking forward to October when Soul of a Killer is released to the masses.
Separated at the age of two Koby Hill and Keaton Rutledge come back together to realize their dreams. For Koby, that means a soul food restaurant. For Keaton, it means a bookstore. They find the perfect place in Timber Lake not far from Seattle. Keaton had been adopted and Koby lived his life in foster homes. Because of that Koby has an eclectic group he calls family. His “family” and Keaton’s “mom” are very supportive of their new venture.
Working long days to prepare for their grand opening Koby is concerned about Keaton taking public transportation home until his foster brother Reef offers to meet Keaton and see that she gets home safely. But when Keaton boards the train to meet Reef she finds that the man has been murdered. Someone on that train had to see something . . . or is one of them the killer? Koby and Keaton intend to find out, putting their lives in danger right before they are set to have their dreams come true.
What a fun theme for this new series!
Twins Koby and Keaton are wonderful characters, each with their own strengths. Strengths that seem a little backward to me but they seem to make it work. Koby is very detailed oriented and observant. Things I would usually associate with a well-read librarian like Keaton. Her strength is that she has a keen sense of smell. Something you would expect a chef to have. They both do love mysteries so they willingly become amateur sleuths to find a killer.
My favorite character though is Mama Jola. She raised both Reef and Koby and many others. She is also the one who taught Koby how to cook soul food. A stylish black woman who speaks her mind and cooks like a dream. She steps right in and almost takes over the chef position at the cafe. I think I gained weight just reading about the food she was cooking and baking. She doesn’t hit it off immediately with Keaton’s adoptive mom but soon they are fast friends encouraging their kids and helping in any way they can. While being brought up in totally different ways, these moms raised remarkable children.
The mystery was complicated because of the way the author twisted all the different characters together. A random event was not as random as originally thought. Also, people are not exactly as they seem. That all adds up to a good number of suspects. I did hone in on one individual immediately just because of their general attitude about everything but couldn’t figure out their motive so I was following all the clues right up to the end. That ending was very exciting and ended up being pretty heartwarming too.
Koby and Keaton are growing closer every day and they both would like to find their biological mom so that subplot is left open to continue into future books in the series.
Body and Soul Food has given this series a marvelous start and I am looking forward to October when Soul of a Killer is released to the masses.
October 4, 2023
I loved her Ice Cream Parlor Mystery series 🍦🍧so I am giving her Books and Biscuits Mystery series 📚🥐 a chance. 😊
And I was not disappointed! I love the way Abby Collette writes a cozy mystery. I really liked the story of the long lost twins Keaton, and her brother, Koby (Keaton is one of those smart, kind and independent women I look up to in books. Definitely a good influence). Their relationship is so sweet. I love that they found each other and went into business together. Books and Biscuits is such a cute name for a cafe/bookstore. I would be like a kid in a candy store in a place like that 🫠. The relationships they have with their pets, Remy and Roo are adorable. The mystery was actually sad, as it was their good friend they lost (I don't think that spoils much. It happens early in the book). All the main characters in the book seem fun. They live in a cute town called Timber Lake. As with a lot of cozy mysteries, I want to know the people, the town and the businesses they run. The characters compare some parts in this mystery to the story "Murder on the Orient Express" which I've heard of but have never read. This book made me interested in checking it out. There's only two books in this series so far but I already have the second one reserved at my library. I am looking forward to it. If you like cozy mysteries, I recommend this one and others Abby Collette has written. I've enjoyed every one. Happy reading!! 📔📙📕🥖🍞
And I was not disappointed! I love the way Abby Collette writes a cozy mystery. I really liked the story of the long lost twins Keaton, and her brother, Koby (Keaton is one of those smart, kind and independent women I look up to in books. Definitely a good influence). Their relationship is so sweet. I love that they found each other and went into business together. Books and Biscuits is such a cute name for a cafe/bookstore. I would be like a kid in a candy store in a place like that 🫠. The relationships they have with their pets, Remy and Roo are adorable. The mystery was actually sad, as it was their good friend they lost (I don't think that spoils much. It happens early in the book). All the main characters in the book seem fun. They live in a cute town called Timber Lake. As with a lot of cozy mysteries, I want to know the people, the town and the businesses they run. The characters compare some parts in this mystery to the story "Murder on the Orient Express" which I've heard of but have never read. This book made me interested in checking it out. There's only two books in this series so far but I already have the second one reserved at my library. I am looking forward to it. If you like cozy mysteries, I recommend this one and others Abby Collette has written. I've enjoyed every one. Happy reading!! 📔📙📕🥖🍞
July 26, 2022
I really wanted to like this book—and I did for a while. The concept is so cool and fun. The execution didn’t work for me.
The POV character (Keaton) is a little bit wimpy, and maybe that’s okay, except it’s not enjoyable to read. Soooo not enjoyable to follow for over 300 pages. She bumbles around (not endearingly) and every person she speaks to, she instantly suspects of the murder. She repeats things a lot, like it’s the first time she thought it, but she’s also contradictory—stating one thing and later on the same page, announcing the opposite with no thought in between. I can’t decide if this is author error or character-problem. I think it might be the author because there are other problems with the writing.
The mystery isn’t fun to explore. There’s nothing to sink your teeth into and no one to care about.
There are many “rules” authors are told to follow and the good ones break the rules with flourish and confidence and pull it off. But I kind of wish this author had followed some of those rules because the dialogue is a little stilted with lots of “Hi” and “Hello” and those things we say in real life but you don’t put in a book because, frankly, they’re boring. At the end, there must have been seven (maybe more) instances of “Who?” and “What?” and “What are you talking about?” and it was very annoying and did not work. I found myself getting antsy reading the end and I couldn’t wait for it to be over because it irritated me so much.
Keaton is, as I rudely described, “wimpy”—there’s a line where she actually states she can’t do anything by herself, and there are parts of the book where she acts like a very young child even though she’s 25 and it isn’t endearing, it’s unrealistic. She overreacts like crazy and it almost made me question if she was even a reliable narrator. (At one point, I suspected maybe she did the murder and doesn’t remember. I won’t say if this happened or not.) So Keaton, at the end, suddenly decides to be bold (with no reasoning behind it so it’s completely out of character just to get the plot moving so we could end the book) and does something stupid (putting herself in unnecessary danger for zero reason) and, frankly, she should have died. But no…the author broke the rule of the star of the story getting herself/himself out of danger.
I, personally, loathe that unless it’s done to some great affect or for some compelling reason. And probably not in a first book.
I've read reviews on the author's other series and people stating they're much better, so I'll probably check those out, but I'm probably not going to continue with this particular series.
The POV character (Keaton) is a little bit wimpy, and maybe that’s okay, except it’s not enjoyable to read. Soooo not enjoyable to follow for over 300 pages. She bumbles around (not endearingly) and every person she speaks to, she instantly suspects of the murder. She repeats things a lot, like it’s the first time she thought it, but she’s also contradictory—stating one thing and later on the same page, announcing the opposite with no thought in between. I can’t decide if this is author error or character-problem. I think it might be the author because there are other problems with the writing.
The mystery isn’t fun to explore. There’s nothing to sink your teeth into and no one to care about.
There are many “rules” authors are told to follow and the good ones break the rules with flourish and confidence and pull it off. But I kind of wish this author had followed some of those rules because the dialogue is a little stilted with lots of “Hi” and “Hello” and those things we say in real life but you don’t put in a book because, frankly, they’re boring. At the end, there must have been seven (maybe more) instances of “Who?” and “What?” and “What are you talking about?” and it was very annoying and did not work. I found myself getting antsy reading the end and I couldn’t wait for it to be over because it irritated me so much.
Keaton is, as I rudely described, “wimpy”—there’s a line where she actually states she can’t do anything by herself, and there are parts of the book where she acts like a very young child even though she’s 25 and it isn’t endearing, it’s unrealistic. She overreacts like crazy and it almost made me question if she was even a reliable narrator. (At one point, I suspected maybe she did the murder and doesn’t remember. I won’t say if this happened or not.) So Keaton, at the end, suddenly decides to be bold (with no reasoning behind it so it’s completely out of character just to get the plot moving so we could end the book) and does something stupid (putting herself in unnecessary danger for zero reason) and, frankly, she should have died. But no…the author broke the rule of the star of the story getting herself/himself out of danger.
I, personally, loathe that unless it’s done to some great affect or for some compelling reason. And probably not in a first book.
I've read reviews on the author's other series and people stating they're much better, so I'll probably check those out, but I'm probably not going to continue with this particular series.
December 4, 2021
This exciting cozy mystery is first in a fabulous new series that I hope will have a long run! I love books and cats like Keaton does, but my ability to cook will never resemble that of her twin brother, Koby. Their business concept is great, using both of their passions to open one great shop, Books and Biscuits. It includes a bookstore that Keaton will run and a soul food café that is Koby’s turf. I love the main characters; they are delightfully engaging and endearing. The mystery kept me guessing throughout.
When they were toddlers, the mother of twins Koby and Keaton had relinquished them. To date, none of the many searches Koby has done have led him to their birth mother or why she gave them up. Keaton was adopted quickly by a couple who have been wonderful parents. Koby had bounced around between the group home and various foster homes. The most notable foster brother he had over the years, with whom Koby has been best friends with most of his life, is Reef. In the three years that the twins have been reunited, Keaton has come to know Reef, and recently he has been flirting with her. They will have their first date in a couple days, and Keaton is looking forward to it.
Koby lives in Seattle, a train ride from Timber Lake, where their shop will be and where Keaton lives. After spending the day with Koby in Seattle, Koby would meet Reef on his train heading for Timber Lake and he would see her safely home. She headed for his seat, not realizing until he fell that he was dead. He had been alive just minutes ago when he last texted. Keaton pulled the emergency cord, Koby saw there was a problem, and ran to her just before the conductor locked the car. Only five people were on that car, none of whom admitted to seeing anyone with Reef.
It was determined that Reef was murdered. Poisoned. With no food or beverage near him, how could that be possible? The detective, lacking any real evidence, decided that Keaton and Koby must be guilty. Why else would they just happen to board when Reef died? Koby believes the only way to avoid arrest is to find whodunit themselves. Keaton wasn’t excited about doing so until she started finding coincidences about the other passengers.
Quite often I feel a step out of time when reading foodie mysteries, so I was happy to enjoy the best of both worlds without getting deeply into recipes and cooking. I really like this brother/ sister team, how supportive they are of each other and how they are in business together. I am glad that Keaton is joining him in the search for their mother. She was given a wonderful life by her adoptive parents and never felt the same desire to find her. I am disappointed to see a great guy like Reef taken out of the story!
Overall, I am excited about this new series, including the characters, the potential for the café and store, and how the twists and turns keep me thinking about the possible suspects. The mystery is riveting, holding my attention. I did not guess the identity of the real whodunit, so I was surprised at the resolution. There were no loose ends left, and I am looking forward to the next novel. I highly recommend this to fans of well-crafted cozy mysteries, bookstores, soul food, and endearing characters.
From a thankful heart: I received a complimentary copy of this novel, and this is my honest review.
When they were toddlers, the mother of twins Koby and Keaton had relinquished them. To date, none of the many searches Koby has done have led him to their birth mother or why she gave them up. Keaton was adopted quickly by a couple who have been wonderful parents. Koby had bounced around between the group home and various foster homes. The most notable foster brother he had over the years, with whom Koby has been best friends with most of his life, is Reef. In the three years that the twins have been reunited, Keaton has come to know Reef, and recently he has been flirting with her. They will have their first date in a couple days, and Keaton is looking forward to it.
Koby lives in Seattle, a train ride from Timber Lake, where their shop will be and where Keaton lives. After spending the day with Koby in Seattle, Koby would meet Reef on his train heading for Timber Lake and he would see her safely home. She headed for his seat, not realizing until he fell that he was dead. He had been alive just minutes ago when he last texted. Keaton pulled the emergency cord, Koby saw there was a problem, and ran to her just before the conductor locked the car. Only five people were on that car, none of whom admitted to seeing anyone with Reef.
It was determined that Reef was murdered. Poisoned. With no food or beverage near him, how could that be possible? The detective, lacking any real evidence, decided that Keaton and Koby must be guilty. Why else would they just happen to board when Reef died? Koby believes the only way to avoid arrest is to find whodunit themselves. Keaton wasn’t excited about doing so until she started finding coincidences about the other passengers.
Quite often I feel a step out of time when reading foodie mysteries, so I was happy to enjoy the best of both worlds without getting deeply into recipes and cooking. I really like this brother/ sister team, how supportive they are of each other and how they are in business together. I am glad that Keaton is joining him in the search for their mother. She was given a wonderful life by her adoptive parents and never felt the same desire to find her. I am disappointed to see a great guy like Reef taken out of the story!
Overall, I am excited about this new series, including the characters, the potential for the café and store, and how the twists and turns keep me thinking about the possible suspects. The mystery is riveting, holding my attention. I did not guess the identity of the real whodunit, so I was surprised at the resolution. There were no loose ends left, and I am looking forward to the next novel. I highly recommend this to fans of well-crafted cozy mysteries, bookstores, soul food, and endearing characters.
From a thankful heart: I received a complimentary copy of this novel, and this is my honest review.
October 18, 2021
BODY AND SOUL FOOD by Abby Collette is my first book by this author. I was intrigued by the concept of combining soul food and a bookstore. Books & Biscuits is a lovely place that I think people would enjoy. However, I was hoping for more of a gripping story in terms of the mystery aspect.
While I enjoyed the fraternal twins, Keaton and Koby, I also didn’t feel like I got to know them as much as I would like. Since this is only the first book in the series, there’s still plenty of time to learn more about them. But I wish there was more character development in this book.
I do think Collette has a lot of potential, so I’m curious to see how the rest of this new series will pan out. Since I’m such a sucker for foodie mysteries and books, I know I’ll be coming back for seconds.
While I enjoyed the fraternal twins, Keaton and Koby, I also didn’t feel like I got to know them as much as I would like. Since this is only the first book in the series, there’s still plenty of time to learn more about them. But I wish there was more character development in this book.
I do think Collette has a lot of potential, so I’m curious to see how the rest of this new series will pan out. Since I’m such a sucker for foodie mysteries and books, I know I’ll be coming back for seconds.
January 21, 2022
(audiobook)
Uhm.... I love the story of the two main characters. African American fraternal twins separated after some time in foster care (at an early age). The girl was adopted and the boy spent his life in the system. After years he finds her. This is the most different storyline for a cozy mystery I've ever read. I loved that! I love they have a bookstore and restaurant, "Books and Biscuits". Love that!
The actor reading this was the biggest problem for me. I dnf'd this because I just could not take it. Then I went back to listen to it. I am happy I finished it, but it was about 3 hours too long. Too many characters, too long. I will continue this series though. I will just read the book next time.
Uhm.... I love the story of the two main characters. African American fraternal twins separated after some time in foster care (at an early age). The girl was adopted and the boy spent his life in the system. After years he finds her. This is the most different storyline for a cozy mystery I've ever read. I loved that! I love they have a bookstore and restaurant, "Books and Biscuits". Love that!
The actor reading this was the biggest problem for me. I dnf'd this because I just could not take it. Then I went back to listen to it. I am happy I finished it, but it was about 3 hours too long. Too many characters, too long. I will continue this series though. I will just read the book next time.
October 27, 2023
I feel like this definitely could've been cozier, and I didn't appreciate the spoilers for Murder on the Orient Express, simply for the principle of spoiling another piece of literature. I liked the backstory between the main characters and the scenes with them setting up their half bookstore, half cafe business, but the murder mystery lost my interest in the midst of all the drama of all these different girls wanting to be with Reef lol. I honestly didn't even care enough to fully listen to the ending and figure out who the killer was. The audiobook was fun to listen to, but I'm going to forget about this story by tomorrow for sure.
September 26, 2022
Fantastic start to the series! I really loved the twins - thought they were both fleshed out, interesting characters. Mama Zola is the GREATEST character. She is so colorful and fun. The mystery was really interesting and the ending had me on the edge of my seat.
June 25, 2022
Good start to the series! I liked the characters and their book store/cafe sounds awesome and someplace I’d like to visit. I was really sad about who the victim was in this as I would have liked to see him in future books. The mystery was well done. I hope there are more books in the series to come.
April 4, 2024
I liked it! I love the idea of a bookshop and a cafe, too.
December 2, 2021
Body and Soul Food, #1 in the new Books & Biscuits mystery series, features fraternal twins Koby Hill and Keaton Rutledge. Separated when they were two years old, the twins recently found each other and decided to open a combination Soul food café and bookstore in fictional Timber Lake, a suburb of Seattle.
Life becomes more complicated for the pair when Koby's foster brother is murdered. Frustrated by the police attempts to solve the murder, Koby and Keaton strike out on their own to bring a killer to justice. Interesting characters, lots of red herrings, and complex family attachments. Excellent choice for reader of cozy mysteries.
Life becomes more complicated for the pair when Koby's foster brother is murdered. Frustrated by the police attempts to solve the murder, Koby and Keaton strike out on their own to bring a killer to justice. Interesting characters, lots of red herrings, and complex family attachments. Excellent choice for reader of cozy mysteries.
November 21, 2021
I really enjoyed this first book in a new series, the first I have read by this author. I like the combination of books and soul food, and I really enjoyed the growing relationship of twins Keaton and Koby. The mystery was interesting and I see a lot of potential for expanding storylines. Would definitely like more!
April 25, 2023
3.25 stars rounded down
I liked the characters and setting but really this was very slow.
I'm hoping the next installment will be better.
I liked the characters and setting but really this was very slow.
I'm hoping the next installment will be better.
March 16, 2022
Abby Collette is one of my fave cozy mystery authors, so I was thrilled when I heard about her new series involving a bookstore/soul food cafe combo! I was even more excited when I learned that the proprietors of said establishment are fraternal twins who recently found each other after being separated as infants. I’ve not seen that before in any cozy to my recollection, so I knew it would add a unique vibe to this series – and I was right.
Keaton and her long-lost twin brother Koby are both immediately likable and, though they had very different childhoods and haven’t been reacquainted long, their connection is palpable. I really enjoyed their relationship and ‘twin dynamics’, as well as the merging of their two backgrounds. Mama Zola is a hoot and I just wanted a big hug from her (and some peach cobbler, as long as she was handing some out) and to sit and chat for a spell. Keaton’s adoptive mom takes a bit more warming up to, but just wait until Mama Zola gets ahold of her!
I was so saddened by the identity of the victim in this story. Usually it’s a character that no one really likes or knows, but in this case – even in the short time readers spend with this character – he was someone I hoped we’d see more of in the series. I literally gasped out loud when his body is discovered, and I was solidly invested in helping Keaton & Koby figure out who murdered him. The mystery is well plotted with several possible suspects and some clever red herrings, and even though I suspected the culprit was somehow involved I didn’t eliminate anyone else from my own suspect list until the very end.
Bottom Line: Body and Soul Food by Abby Collette is a feast for book lovers, cozy mystery sleuths, and foodies alike! The engaging writing voice draws you in like a warm hug and keeps you thoroughly entertained until the very last word. Along with the mystery arc (that is neatly wrapped up at the end), Keaton & Koby’s history plays a big role in this series debut, too. Not only do the different backgrounds in which these separated twins were raised factor heavily into the plot, readers will also be anxiously waiting for the next book to see what answers about their biological mother might be found. A great start to this new series by a talented author!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first reviewed on Reading Is My SuperPower
Keaton and her long-lost twin brother Koby are both immediately likable and, though they had very different childhoods and haven’t been reacquainted long, their connection is palpable. I really enjoyed their relationship and ‘twin dynamics’, as well as the merging of their two backgrounds. Mama Zola is a hoot and I just wanted a big hug from her (and some peach cobbler, as long as she was handing some out) and to sit and chat for a spell. Keaton’s adoptive mom takes a bit more warming up to, but just wait until Mama Zola gets ahold of her!
I was so saddened by the identity of the victim in this story. Usually it’s a character that no one really likes or knows, but in this case – even in the short time readers spend with this character – he was someone I hoped we’d see more of in the series. I literally gasped out loud when his body is discovered, and I was solidly invested in helping Keaton & Koby figure out who murdered him. The mystery is well plotted with several possible suspects and some clever red herrings, and even though I suspected the culprit was somehow involved I didn’t eliminate anyone else from my own suspect list until the very end.
Bottom Line: Body and Soul Food by Abby Collette is a feast for book lovers, cozy mystery sleuths, and foodies alike! The engaging writing voice draws you in like a warm hug and keeps you thoroughly entertained until the very last word. Along with the mystery arc (that is neatly wrapped up at the end), Keaton & Koby’s history plays a big role in this series debut, too. Not only do the different backgrounds in which these separated twins were raised factor heavily into the plot, readers will also be anxiously waiting for the next book to see what answers about their biological mother might be found. A great start to this new series by a talented author!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first reviewed on Reading Is My SuperPower
November 15, 2021
What a wonderful start to a new series that I can tell will be a favorite. I instantly loved twins Keaton and Kolby. The vivid descriptions of Timber Lake and their new bookshop and cafe, Books & Biscuit, really make me wistful that I could visit. Keaton and Kolby have such an interesting history and I love so much that they are reunited twins and learning about how they were brought back together and have started this dream venture together. I appreciate how realistic the process of opening a new business is portrayed and I hope so much that they succeed and can't wait to see more of their marketing ideas. The description of the food from the cafe side had my mouth watering and I love how Kolby's foster mother Mama Zola's love language is feeding people. My heart absolutely broke for them when Reef is killed and I completely understand their drive to find his killer. There are some very unlikely suspects involved in this mystery and I was very shocked by the reveal and the dangerous circumstances that unfold at the ending. I cannot wait to read more about both the twins and their new business.
Thanks to the publishers for a Netgalley copy.
Thanks to the publishers for a Netgalley copy.
January 8, 2023
Somehow my search for a thriller to listen to while i perform mundane household tasks landed me smack in the middle of a cozy mystery. I don't know how that happened. And I don't know why I keep reading cozies- they're not really my fave but this one wasn't too bad. I know I sound like a harpy but amateur, neighborhood detectives just does not make sense to me but I suppose if the police ain't gon' do it... it's got to get done. This one wasn't too bad and I love the idea of a bookstore connected to a soul food cafe. It was just on THIS side of a smidge too... wholesome for me. But a nice break from the rougher material I usually read.
I was going to rate this 3 but I'll add a star because I like to see a Black woman mystery writer out here doing her thing, though I prefer this author's contemporary women's fiction much more.
I was going to rate this 3 but I'll add a star because I like to see a Black woman mystery writer out here doing her thing, though I prefer this author's contemporary women's fiction much more.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 2, 2025
actual rating: 3/5 stars
part of 25 books in 2025
i absolutely loved the mystery and the cozy, charming setting of this book. the combination of a bookstore and soul food cafe is such a brilliant concept and it created a warm and inviting atmosphere that drew me in right away. the only thing that really detracted for me was the main character. she was sooooo judgemental of other women and giving not like other girls. also thanks to the author for spoiling murder on the orient express very early.
part of 25 books in 2025
i absolutely loved the mystery and the cozy, charming setting of this book. the combination of a bookstore and soul food cafe is such a brilliant concept and it created a warm and inviting atmosphere that drew me in right away. the only thing that really detracted for me was the main character. she was sooooo judgemental of other women and giving not like other girls. also thanks to the author for spoiling murder on the orient express very early.
July 8, 2022
I found this book just okay. The twin partnership and the book/cafe idea was so cute and different. I just found the story a little slower and I didn’t connect to the characters like I do in the ice cream mysteries. I will give it another try though with thee second book in the series coming.
Read
March 1, 2023DNF at 3%
April 19, 2023
I thought the setting of this book was so much fun and unique. Bookstores and restaurants are a match made in heaven for me. I liked the little bit of the story where we got to see them doing the work to get their business off the ground.
The writing in the book was a little bit repetitive at times. The mystery was an interesting enough plot line with many options on who could have done it. I like how it interconnected with the life of our main characters. Some parts were a bit confusing. There was an overarching plot line involving finding their birth mom and that was left on a cliffhanger but it didn’t have anything to do with the main mystery.
The characters fell a bit flat for me. There wasn’t anything that made me connect with them. I felt like there could have been a lot more character depth. They had an interesting backstory that I felt wasn’t explored as much as I would have liked.
This book was just fine for me, I’ll probably continue the series only because I already own book 2. If I didn’t I wouldn’t have enough interest in the story or characters to continue. I would read other works from this author.
The writing in the book was a little bit repetitive at times. The mystery was an interesting enough plot line with many options on who could have done it. I like how it interconnected with the life of our main characters. Some parts were a bit confusing. There was an overarching plot line involving finding their birth mom and that was left on a cliffhanger but it didn’t have anything to do with the main mystery.
The characters fell a bit flat for me. There wasn’t anything that made me connect with them. I felt like there could have been a lot more character depth. They had an interesting backstory that I felt wasn’t explored as much as I would have liked.
This book was just fine for me, I’ll probably continue the series only because I already own book 2. If I didn’t I wouldn’t have enough interest in the story or characters to continue. I would read other works from this author.
January 26, 2023
*Audiobook*
Has potential to get better as the series progresses, but this story did not actually seem to focus on the murder much. It seems to be more of the background building and scene setting debut to the series.
It was too long and my interest waned hard about 3/4ths of the way through. I was listening to this while doing chores and honestly, when the murderer was revealed I couldn’t even remember where they fit into the plot.
However, I liked Koby; he’s a great character. Keaton seems so sheltered that she’s almost unbelievable. A 25 year old who thinks her mother’s terrible cookies are the best? So she’s never eaten a cookie elsewhere, even as an adult? As a kid, she didn’t have any friends or go to other kids’ homes and didn’t go out even as she got older. That’s just odd. Maybe the series conclusion will have that she’s been the real murderer all along! I jest.
The best parts were about the soul food. Even listening to the recipes at the end was pleasant and made my mouth water.
Has potential to get better as the series progresses, but this story did not actually seem to focus on the murder much. It seems to be more of the background building and scene setting debut to the series.
It was too long and my interest waned hard about 3/4ths of the way through. I was listening to this while doing chores and honestly, when the murderer was revealed I couldn’t even remember where they fit into the plot.
However, I liked Koby; he’s a great character. Keaton seems so sheltered that she’s almost unbelievable. A 25 year old who thinks her mother’s terrible cookies are the best? So she’s never eaten a cookie elsewhere, even as an adult? As a kid, she didn’t have any friends or go to other kids’ homes and didn’t go out even as she got older. That’s just odd. Maybe the series conclusion will have that she’s been the real murderer all along! I jest.
The best parts were about the soul food. Even listening to the recipes at the end was pleasant and made my mouth water.
September 30, 2022
First book in the series, and the best I can say about Keaton Rutledge is she's a ditz. She and her long lost twin brother, Koby Hill, have joined up to start Books and Biscuits, a combination bookstore and soul food cafe. But not too long before the opening, Koby's foster brother, Reef, is found dead on a train where he was supposed to meet Keaton on the way home from Seattle. So, who did it? That person? No, it was that other person. No, it was someone else. And on and on. All the while trying to open their business. They seem to spend more time working on a mystery, in which they are suspects than trying to get their business opened. Can't really recommend.
November 30, 2021
Koby Hill and Keaton Rutledge, twins who were dumped in foster care at age two, have recently reunited for the first time since Keaton was adopted. Koby spent his life in foster care and is eager to reconnect with the sister he had forgotten until his foster brother Reef reminded him. Now the twins are making up for lost time and opening a bookshop/soul food café. Keaton will handle the bookshop end of things and Koby will cook up mouthwatering recipes he learned from his foster mother. Reef pops in to test Koby's recipes every day. He's working hard on getting healthy and changing his lifestyle habits and keeps flirting with Keaton. It seems like the two will finally get a date. Koby is wary, even though he loves Reef like a brother. He knows it's a scary world out there and Keaton has been sheltered. She heads off to meet Reef on the light rail on evening while Koby waits on the platform for her to safely get on the train before heading home in the opposite direction. When Keaton enters the train to greet Reef, she discovers something is terribly wrong! Reef is slumped over dead in his seat. Koby soon joins her but nothing can be done for their friend except wait for the police. Koby mistrusts the police and intuition says Reef was murdered. When the detective in charge sets his sight on the twins as murderers, Koby knows they have to solve this one by themselves. None of the other people in the train car claim to have known Reef or anything about the murder but Keaton begins to suspect it may have been like Murder on the Orient Express. Koby dismisses Keaton's theory but she may be on to something. Someone is lying and Koby is determined to find out who it is.
I didn't enjoy this story as much as I had hoped. I really like her ice cream shop mysteries but this series is more modern and darker. The murder victim is introduced as a character in the first chapter. Reef is a brother, a good friend and potential love interest. The more we learn about him, the less likely it seems anyone would want to murder him. When I realized Reef was going to be the victim, I almost didn't read the book. It was too heartbreaking to contemplate. I prefer my victims to be evil real estate agents, crooked businessmen and other nefarious evil doers- not someone's brother and friend. The twins don't spend enough time at their shops and there's way too much cooking of savory soul food, which I don't like, and not a lot of books. The only books mentioned in depth are Murder on the Orient Express and Death on the Nile. I wasn't happy when Keaton spoiled the stories. I saw Orient Express but The Nile movie isn't even out yet! (Koby prefers movies). I noticed a few tiny typos but no major editing errors.
I also didn't care for the foster care premise. Koby's background has shaped his character and he's edgier and harder than I prefer. He takes on the overprotective big brother role, overdoing it in spots I thought. He doesn't treat Keaton like an adult. Koby is also way too trusting. He hires people just because they seem like they need a chance. Yeah that's great but when you're wary of your sister traveling alone on public transportation, you need to be wary of who is alone in the shop with her too. Keaton is more mature like that. She knows you can't hire someone who walked in off the street. She did grow up sheltered in an environment much like the one I grew up in. She was unaffected by her past and didn't even know Koby existed until he turned up on her doorstep with a DNA kit. Koby is super driven to find out what happened to their birth mother and why they ended up in foster care. Keaton had a wonderful childhood with two parents who loved her and doesn't dwell on the past but she loves her brother and wants him to be happy so she's doing her best to help facilitate the search for their mother.
I like Keaton. She's bookish, nerdy, shy, quiet and didn't have friends growing up. I'm not certain why she wasn't allowed to hang out with other kids after school and on weekends or why her mother doesn't have gal pals or any friends for that matter. Keaton's best friend was always her father, who recently passed away. She's mourning him still and now there's another death. This new death comes with the speculation of "what if?" rather than her father's death, although sudden and tragic, had precious memories to hang on to once he was gone. Keaton is quirky. She's not perfect and she's not your average nosy sleuth. She's motivated by trying to help her brother solve the mystery of their friend's death and clear their names. During the investigation, Keaton feels emboldened and stupidly confronts suspects. She knows what she's doing is crazy, unlike all the other cozy sleuths but she can't help herself. No doubt her mother, a clinical psychologist, who analyze Keaton's behavior and come up with a reason. I like Keaton's quirks. She reminded me a lot of myself. I would TOTALLY do some of the things she did when I was younger. I get bold when standing up for myself and my friends. I didn't understand how she didn't make connections sooner and how she kept forgetting to tell her brother important pieces of information. Plot device I guess.
Koby isn't quite as enjoyable. He's too hung up on the past. Their birth mother abandoned them or died very young. I'm not sure I'd want to find her. He seems to get distracted during the investigation and when he does speak up, he makes up stories. They're mostly little white lies but like Keaton, I couldn't do that on the spot. What I do like about Koby is his loyalty. Foster care sounds rough but his relationships with Reef, Mama Zola and "Cap'n Hook" got him through and he will always be grateful and want to give back to those who helped. He has Reef as his example. Reef was a wonderful, wonderful human being. He may have made mistakes in the past but if he did, he's trying to atone for them by quietly helping people. He did not at all deserve to die. His death was an incredible tragedy. I figured out HOW pretty quickly but WHO remained a mystery for about half the book. I did end up figuring it out but WHY was a bit of a surprise. There was a twist I didn't see coming.
Detective Chow doesn't seem to be doing much investigating. He doesn't trust the twins or at least not Koby. I kept waiting for racism to come into play but it never did. Perhaps it's implied. How on earth could Keaton and Koby kill Reef in that short amount of time and WHY would they do such a thing? Detective Chow has security footage showing where and when the twins were on the platform and when Keaton got on the train. If they know how Reef died then why would Keaton be on the train at that moment? That makes NO sense whatsoever. I think Koby should have told Detective Chow about the phones though because he could have verified that and searched for the phone.
There were 5 people on the car when Reef died and all claim not to know him or have anything to do with his murder. The twins seem to think some of those people are lying. Keaton spies Tessa Chaiken in her own hometown of Timber Lake. She overhears Tessa tell a lie to a store clerk and that makes Keaton suspicious. Tessa seems to be avoiding Keaton and her questions. Tessa also knows Jason Holiday, another train passenger. Jason works at the library even though his family has money. What is he doing in Timber Lake and what is his connection to Reef? How does he know Tessa? He lied to the detective so what else is he lying about? What about Aubriol Meijer? (The j is silent, thank you). She's a little rude and something about her sparks a memory Keaton can't quite recall. What was her connection to Reef? Darius Anderson comes looking for Reef because he supposedly needs a job. He acts nervous and on edge about something. His brother Sam demands Reef return his tools so he can get to work. Why would Reef have someone else's tools? Sam keeps hanging around, making Keaton nervous. His story doesn't quite add up. Darius seems OK, but might know more than he's letting on. Izzy Ramirez claims to have been Reef's girlfriend. Why would he ask out Keaton if he already had a girlfriend? Maya knew Reef from the jazz club. She says she loved him-as a friend- but I think she did have deeper feelings for him. She likely knows more than she's telling about who would want Reef dead and why. What if she was jealous and wanted him dead so no one else could have him? It's very strange.
My longshot suspect is Mrs. Grayson, Keaton's garden-obsessed neighbor. She complains a lot about new neighbors moving in, not following the rules and many of them are RENTERS! *gasp* whatever that means... She's xenophobic for sure. Could Reef be one of those people she is complaining about? I bet she has the murder weapon in her yard. Another wild card is Old Man Walker at the marina. He is grouchy and stuck in the past. He hasn't even cleaned his small shop in decades. He can be a pain to deal with and sells peppermint candies in his store. He claims not to know why there's a second lock on Reef's storage unit and isn't around when Koby needs the bolt cutters to remove it. Hmmm... One last possible suspect is Historia Krol, owner of the marina. She isn't very friendly and is seen with Jason. Is there a connection or is she just his ride? She seems to have her fingers in a lot of pies and a possible connection with Izzy. Is she just sleazy or is she a murderer?
The regular cast of characters will include Mama Zola, Koby's best foster mother. She's a warm, loving woman who embraces her children into her bosom and feeds people's souls with her cooking. She's larger than life and a lot of fun. Keaton's mom is a psychologist first and loving mom second. It must have been hard to learn how to be a mom to a toddler as she went along but I wish she could just be there for her daughter. Offer the hugs and cookies first. The one thing I didn't like about Mama Zola was how rude and insulting she was about the cookies. She didn't know for sure who made them and she didn't need to insult them out loud. The important thing is that Keaton finds them comforting! She needed those cookies and it was a nice thing for her mom to do for her even if they taste terrible to normal people. In the shop there is Georgie, who is never doing what she's supposed to when but better off in the café under Koby's kind care than the bookshop where Keaton needs help. Enter Pete, a man with an eclectic sense of style who walks in off the street needing a job. Keaton is wary but Koby encourages his sister to hire him. Pete is excellent at customer service, something Keaton, as an introvert, struggles with. He's helpful and useful. Moran, a retired police detective, made sure Koby, Reef and the other kids in foster care didn't fall through the cracks. He's a good guy and still looking out for Koby.
The story ends on a hook to keep you reading. I do want to know but I probably won't read the whole book. I'll find someone to share spoilers with me.
If you like modern cozies and good food you will probably like this one. If you're looking for a book themed cozy, look elsewhere.
I didn't enjoy this story as much as I had hoped. I really like her ice cream shop mysteries but this series is more modern and darker. The murder victim is introduced as a character in the first chapter. Reef is a brother, a good friend and potential love interest. The more we learn about him, the less likely it seems anyone would want to murder him. When I realized Reef was going to be the victim, I almost didn't read the book. It was too heartbreaking to contemplate. I prefer my victims to be evil real estate agents, crooked businessmen and other nefarious evil doers- not someone's brother and friend. The twins don't spend enough time at their shops and there's way too much cooking of savory soul food, which I don't like, and not a lot of books. The only books mentioned in depth are Murder on the Orient Express and Death on the Nile. I wasn't happy when Keaton spoiled the stories. I saw Orient Express but The Nile movie isn't even out yet! (Koby prefers movies). I noticed a few tiny typos but no major editing errors.
I also didn't care for the foster care premise. Koby's background has shaped his character and he's edgier and harder than I prefer. He takes on the overprotective big brother role, overdoing it in spots I thought. He doesn't treat Keaton like an adult. Koby is also way too trusting. He hires people just because they seem like they need a chance. Yeah that's great but when you're wary of your sister traveling alone on public transportation, you need to be wary of who is alone in the shop with her too. Keaton is more mature like that. She knows you can't hire someone who walked in off the street. She did grow up sheltered in an environment much like the one I grew up in. She was unaffected by her past and didn't even know Koby existed until he turned up on her doorstep with a DNA kit. Koby is super driven to find out what happened to their birth mother and why they ended up in foster care. Keaton had a wonderful childhood with two parents who loved her and doesn't dwell on the past but she loves her brother and wants him to be happy so she's doing her best to help facilitate the search for their mother.
I like Keaton. She's bookish, nerdy, shy, quiet and didn't have friends growing up. I'm not certain why she wasn't allowed to hang out with other kids after school and on weekends or why her mother doesn't have gal pals or any friends for that matter. Keaton's best friend was always her father, who recently passed away. She's mourning him still and now there's another death. This new death comes with the speculation of "what if?" rather than her father's death, although sudden and tragic, had precious memories to hang on to once he was gone. Keaton is quirky. She's not perfect and she's not your average nosy sleuth. She's motivated by trying to help her brother solve the mystery of their friend's death and clear their names. During the investigation, Keaton feels emboldened and stupidly confronts suspects. She knows what she's doing is crazy, unlike all the other cozy sleuths but she can't help herself. No doubt her mother, a clinical psychologist, who analyze Keaton's behavior and come up with a reason. I like Keaton's quirks. She reminded me a lot of myself. I would TOTALLY do some of the things she did when I was younger. I get bold when standing up for myself and my friends. I didn't understand how she didn't make connections sooner and how she kept forgetting to tell her brother important pieces of information. Plot device I guess.
Koby isn't quite as enjoyable. He's too hung up on the past. Their birth mother abandoned them or died very young. I'm not sure I'd want to find her. He seems to get distracted during the investigation and when he does speak up, he makes up stories. They're mostly little white lies but like Keaton, I couldn't do that on the spot. What I do like about Koby is his loyalty. Foster care sounds rough but his relationships with Reef, Mama Zola and "Cap'n Hook" got him through and he will always be grateful and want to give back to those who helped. He has Reef as his example. Reef was a wonderful, wonderful human being. He may have made mistakes in the past but if he did, he's trying to atone for them by quietly helping people. He did not at all deserve to die. His death was an incredible tragedy. I figured out HOW pretty quickly but WHO remained a mystery for about half the book. I did end up figuring it out but WHY was a bit of a surprise. There was a twist I didn't see coming.
Detective Chow doesn't seem to be doing much investigating. He doesn't trust the twins or at least not Koby. I kept waiting for racism to come into play but it never did. Perhaps it's implied. How on earth could Keaton and Koby kill Reef in that short amount of time and WHY would they do such a thing? Detective Chow has security footage showing where and when the twins were on the platform and when Keaton got on the train. If they know how Reef died then why would Keaton be on the train at that moment? That makes NO sense whatsoever. I think Koby should have told Detective Chow about the phones though because he could have verified that and searched for the phone.
There were 5 people on the car when Reef died and all claim not to know him or have anything to do with his murder. The twins seem to think some of those people are lying. Keaton spies Tessa Chaiken in her own hometown of Timber Lake. She overhears Tessa tell a lie to a store clerk and that makes Keaton suspicious. Tessa seems to be avoiding Keaton and her questions. Tessa also knows Jason Holiday, another train passenger. Jason works at the library even though his family has money. What is he doing in Timber Lake and what is his connection to Reef? How does he know Tessa? He lied to the detective so what else is he lying about? What about Aubriol Meijer? (The j is silent, thank you). She's a little rude and something about her sparks a memory Keaton can't quite recall. What was her connection to Reef? Darius Anderson comes looking for Reef because he supposedly needs a job. He acts nervous and on edge about something. His brother Sam demands Reef return his tools so he can get to work. Why would Reef have someone else's tools? Sam keeps hanging around, making Keaton nervous. His story doesn't quite add up. Darius seems OK, but might know more than he's letting on. Izzy Ramirez claims to have been Reef's girlfriend. Why would he ask out Keaton if he already had a girlfriend? Maya knew Reef from the jazz club. She says she loved him-as a friend- but I think she did have deeper feelings for him. She likely knows more than she's telling about who would want Reef dead and why. What if she was jealous and wanted him dead so no one else could have him? It's very strange.
My longshot suspect is Mrs. Grayson, Keaton's garden-obsessed neighbor. She complains a lot about new neighbors moving in, not following the rules and many of them are RENTERS! *gasp* whatever that means... She's xenophobic for sure. Could Reef be one of those people she is complaining about? I bet she has the murder weapon in her yard. Another wild card is Old Man Walker at the marina. He is grouchy and stuck in the past. He hasn't even cleaned his small shop in decades. He can be a pain to deal with and sells peppermint candies in his store. He claims not to know why there's a second lock on Reef's storage unit and isn't around when Koby needs the bolt cutters to remove it. Hmmm... One last possible suspect is Historia Krol, owner of the marina. She isn't very friendly and is seen with Jason. Is there a connection or is she just his ride? She seems to have her fingers in a lot of pies and a possible connection with Izzy. Is she just sleazy or is she a murderer?
The regular cast of characters will include Mama Zola, Koby's best foster mother. She's a warm, loving woman who embraces her children into her bosom and feeds people's souls with her cooking. She's larger than life and a lot of fun. Keaton's mom is a psychologist first and loving mom second. It must have been hard to learn how to be a mom to a toddler as she went along but I wish she could just be there for her daughter. Offer the hugs and cookies first. The one thing I didn't like about Mama Zola was how rude and insulting she was about the cookies. She didn't know for sure who made them and she didn't need to insult them out loud. The important thing is that Keaton finds them comforting! She needed those cookies and it was a nice thing for her mom to do for her even if they taste terrible to normal people. In the shop there is Georgie, who is never doing what she's supposed to when but better off in the café under Koby's kind care than the bookshop where Keaton needs help. Enter Pete, a man with an eclectic sense of style who walks in off the street needing a job. Keaton is wary but Koby encourages his sister to hire him. Pete is excellent at customer service, something Keaton, as an introvert, struggles with. He's helpful and useful. Moran, a retired police detective, made sure Koby, Reef and the other kids in foster care didn't fall through the cracks. He's a good guy and still looking out for Koby.
The story ends on a hook to keep you reading. I do want to know but I probably won't read the whole book. I'll find someone to share spoilers with me.
If you like modern cozies and good food you will probably like this one. If you're looking for a book themed cozy, look elsewhere.
November 23, 2021
https://openbooksociety.com/article/b...
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie
I found this to be a solid, exciting first in a new series! As a barely passable cook, I have very little in common with folks like Koby who excel at cooking. As someone who loves to read, even escapes into reading, I did, however, feel a kinship with Keaton. One of her T-shirts says it best for me: “Once Upon a Time There was a Girl who Really Loved Cats and Books”. This cozy invited me in from the first page and held my attention throughout. The main characters are people I would want to hang around with, the setting is charming, and the mystery seems hopeless.
Koby and Keaton were surrendered the day after their second birthday. Koby stayed in the group home in between foster families. Keaton was adopted by wonderful couple. She had no idea that she had a twin until he showed up at her door. Koby had been reminded of her existence by Reef, a friend and foster brother. Six years older than they are, Reef told Koby that a girl had come in with him. Koby began looking for his twin when he was thirteen, as well as searching for their birth mother. A dream began in his heart that he and his twin would one day own a business. After learning to cook at the side of Mama Zola, one of his foster mothers, he wanted to have a soul food café, and that his sister, wherever she might be, would like books as much as he did, and that café would include a bookstore.
Fast forward almost a decade and Koby found Keaton, a recent graduate with a master’s degree, whose adoptive father had just passed away. Within three years, his dream of the soul food café and bookstore are about to be realized at Books & Biscuits. Reef has been family to Keaton for most of his life. They are the closest of friends, and he is frequently at the café to “taste test” the foods. He has been flirting with Keaton a lot lately, and she has begun to like it. He finally got up his courage to invite her out Friday night to hear him play sax at a jazz club, and she was looking forward to it.
Koby and Keaton spent the day before their opening in Seattle. Koby was going to go with Keaton to her little town of Timber Lake to make sure she was home safe, then return to Seattle where he lives. En route, he heard from Reef, who offered to meet Keaton and see her home. Koby was hesitant, a protective brother, while Keaton was happy she would see him. They waited at the platform of the train she would meet Reef on and she boarded upon arrival. Reef didn’t turn to greet her; he fell off the seat. After seeing him, she grabbed the emergency brake pull and screamed. Only then did the other five people on the car figure out something was wrong. She looked up and saw Koby running to get in before the driver locked the doors. It was the beginning of a long night and an even longer week.
Doing the grand opening of Books & Biscuits was hard amidst their grief. It was even more challenging when Koby and Keaton learn they are the primary suspects. Koby has only ever trusted one police officer who has retired. He believes they need to find other suspects. Keaton would rather let Detective Chow do his job, but she is the one who finds suspects and confronts them. I almost laughed at some of her thoughts whenever she flew into panic mode because I understood. Keaton, Koby, Mama Zola, and the changes in Keaton’s relationship with her mom have set an excellent tone for this novel and series.
I didn’t think Reef would be the victim and was so saddened by it. Koby had been stunned to learn some of Reed’s secrets. While none were bad, they were surprising. For a man who had done so much to help others, Koby and Keaton did find a handful of possible suspects. I was surprised at who the killer was, after guessing throughout the novel. The end was satisfactory, and I am looking forward to the next visit to Timber Lake. I highly recommend this impressive start to a new series.
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie
I found this to be a solid, exciting first in a new series! As a barely passable cook, I have very little in common with folks like Koby who excel at cooking. As someone who loves to read, even escapes into reading, I did, however, feel a kinship with Keaton. One of her T-shirts says it best for me: “Once Upon a Time There was a Girl who Really Loved Cats and Books”. This cozy invited me in from the first page and held my attention throughout. The main characters are people I would want to hang around with, the setting is charming, and the mystery seems hopeless.
Koby and Keaton were surrendered the day after their second birthday. Koby stayed in the group home in between foster families. Keaton was adopted by wonderful couple. She had no idea that she had a twin until he showed up at her door. Koby had been reminded of her existence by Reef, a friend and foster brother. Six years older than they are, Reef told Koby that a girl had come in with him. Koby began looking for his twin when he was thirteen, as well as searching for their birth mother. A dream began in his heart that he and his twin would one day own a business. After learning to cook at the side of Mama Zola, one of his foster mothers, he wanted to have a soul food café, and that his sister, wherever she might be, would like books as much as he did, and that café would include a bookstore.
Fast forward almost a decade and Koby found Keaton, a recent graduate with a master’s degree, whose adoptive father had just passed away. Within three years, his dream of the soul food café and bookstore are about to be realized at Books & Biscuits. Reef has been family to Keaton for most of his life. They are the closest of friends, and he is frequently at the café to “taste test” the foods. He has been flirting with Keaton a lot lately, and she has begun to like it. He finally got up his courage to invite her out Friday night to hear him play sax at a jazz club, and she was looking forward to it.
Koby and Keaton spent the day before their opening in Seattle. Koby was going to go with Keaton to her little town of Timber Lake to make sure she was home safe, then return to Seattle where he lives. En route, he heard from Reef, who offered to meet Keaton and see her home. Koby was hesitant, a protective brother, while Keaton was happy she would see him. They waited at the platform of the train she would meet Reef on and she boarded upon arrival. Reef didn’t turn to greet her; he fell off the seat. After seeing him, she grabbed the emergency brake pull and screamed. Only then did the other five people on the car figure out something was wrong. She looked up and saw Koby running to get in before the driver locked the doors. It was the beginning of a long night and an even longer week.
Doing the grand opening of Books & Biscuits was hard amidst their grief. It was even more challenging when Koby and Keaton learn they are the primary suspects. Koby has only ever trusted one police officer who has retired. He believes they need to find other suspects. Keaton would rather let Detective Chow do his job, but she is the one who finds suspects and confronts them. I almost laughed at some of her thoughts whenever she flew into panic mode because I understood. Keaton, Koby, Mama Zola, and the changes in Keaton’s relationship with her mom have set an excellent tone for this novel and series.
I didn’t think Reef would be the victim and was so saddened by it. Koby had been stunned to learn some of Reed’s secrets. While none were bad, they were surprising. For a man who had done so much to help others, Koby and Keaton did find a handful of possible suspects. I was surprised at who the killer was, after guessing throughout the novel. The end was satisfactory, and I am looking forward to the next visit to Timber Lake. I highly recommend this impressive start to a new series.
March 13, 2022
This is a nice cozy with fraternal twins who were separated as youngsters finding each other anew. They open a food and book establishment where the cast for this new series is established. When a friend is murdered the two become amateur sleuthes to solve the crime. It was an enjoyable read but a tad too long. My rating is 3.5.
June 2, 2022
A decent start to a new series. I felt at times like it was trying to go two different directions with the bookstore and the cafe. I liked that it included some recipes at the end. I think I will try another one before making any decisions about the series since it introduced so many characters. The allusions to Murder on the Orient Express were interesting.
July 1, 2023
Picked this up as a quick plane read and it did its job for some mindless entertainment Cute and cheesy mystery novel! Some parts were predictable and the ending didn’t have the plot twist I was hoping for- very underwhelming. But I thought the concept of the bookstore/soul food restaurant was very cute!
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