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A Cocktails and Catering Mystery #1
A Dash of Death
Bad news for Samantha Warren: The plucky Houston, Texas, reporter lost her job and her fiance in rapid succession. But Sam has a way of making lemonade out of the bitterest of lemons. At a meeting of the local historical-homes council, she serves up the homemade bitters that she made as gifts for her wedding party. She intends to use that as her "in" to become an in-demand party mixologist. But the party's over for one of the council members, who keels over dead soon after he sips the bereft bride's bitter brew.
It turns out that the victim, Mark, was poisoned--his drink spiked with oleander. Since Sam mixed the drink that Mark imbibed right before his demise, she finds herself at the front of the suspect line. Now, she'll have to use all of her reporter's wisdom and wiles to clear her name.
Who could have wanted Mark dead? His wife, Gabby? His girlfriend, Darcy? Someone who wanted his seat on the council? Or another citizen of this sweet Texas town that holds some seedy secrets?
Job hunting, building her mixology business, and fending off late-night phone calls from her nearly betrothed don't leave much time for sleuthing. But if Sam can't "pour" over the clues to find the killer, it may soon be last call for her.
It turns out that the victim, Mark, was poisoned--his drink spiked with oleander. Since Sam mixed the drink that Mark imbibed right before his demise, she finds herself at the front of the suspect line. Now, she'll have to use all of her reporter's wisdom and wiles to clear her name.
Who could have wanted Mark dead? His wife, Gabby? His girlfriend, Darcy? Someone who wanted his seat on the council? Or another citizen of this sweet Texas town that holds some seedy secrets?
Job hunting, building her mixology business, and fending off late-night phone calls from her nearly betrothed don't leave much time for sleuthing. But if Sam can't "pour" over the clues to find the killer, it may soon be last call for her.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published February 8, 2022
55 people are currently reading
562 people want to read
About the author
Michelle Hillen Klump
2 books160 followersMichelle Hillen Klump began her writing career as a newspaper reporter, traveling the back roads of central Texas and Arkansas, reporting on everything from natural disasters to crime and corruption. She’s interviewed former presidents, covered a midnight manhunt through the Ozark Mountains, and learned the finer points of how to break a car window from a looter while covering a hurricane. Now, she uses her experiences as fodder for fiction, writing a cozy mystery series about a former reporter turned craft cocktail caterer.
Michelle lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband and young daughter. When she’s not writing or working her day job, she enjoys gardening, reading, exploring Houston’s neighborhoods, hiking and biking, and creating craft cocktails for friends and family.
Michelle lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband and young daughter. When she’s not writing or working her day job, she enjoys gardening, reading, exploring Houston’s neighborhoods, hiking and biking, and creating craft cocktails for friends and family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 151 reviews
February 2, 2022
I nearly gave up on this one because so many letters were missing in the copy I was given that reading it was like a guessing game. Once I had established that nearly every th and ff was omitted I managed to make a good stab at it.
Underneath all the missing letters there was a good story trying to get out. Samantha Warren has lost her job and her boyfriend and very shortly into the tale she is accused of murder. Definitely not her best week. She bounces back though with the support of her friends and investigates the murder with some surprising results.
For me this was a light, standard cosy with lots of food and drink, a satisfying mystery and some enjoyable characters. I would read a follow up book.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Underneath all the missing letters there was a good story trying to get out. Samantha Warren has lost her job and her boyfriend and very shortly into the tale she is accused of murder. Definitely not her best week. She bounces back though with the support of her friends and investigates the murder with some surprising results.
For me this was a light, standard cosy with lots of food and drink, a satisfying mystery and some enjoyable characters. I would read a follow up book.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
May 5, 2022
⭐⭐
It is an unfortunate fact of life that not all "cozies" are created equal, and such was the case with this one. Generally cozy mysteries are just that...cozy. Small, quaint towns with tons of character. Quirky, but lovable side characters. A slightly annoying lead character that you can't help but love. A good mystery, a dash of humor, all wrapped up with a few recipes (the shining star of this book. I can't wait to try making them). Apart from the aforementioned recipes, this book had none of those elements. The setting was boring. The mystery was slow. Samantha's two friends were okay. However, Samantha herself was just unlikable. So "whoa is me" and unsympathetic. And to top it all off, this was once again an ARC that was missing letters, making it very annoying to read. Overall, A Dash Of Death was a "meh" book and I don't think I will continue with this series.
**ARC Via NetGalley**
It is an unfortunate fact of life that not all "cozies" are created equal, and such was the case with this one. Generally cozy mysteries are just that...cozy. Small, quaint towns with tons of character. Quirky, but lovable side characters. A slightly annoying lead character that you can't help but love. A good mystery, a dash of humor, all wrapped up with a few recipes (the shining star of this book. I can't wait to try making them). Apart from the aforementioned recipes, this book had none of those elements. The setting was boring. The mystery was slow. Samantha's two friends were okay. However, Samantha herself was just unlikable. So "whoa is me" and unsympathetic. And to top it all off, this was once again an ARC that was missing letters, making it very annoying to read. Overall, A Dash Of Death was a "meh" book and I don't think I will continue with this series.
**ARC Via NetGalley**
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July 20, 2021I found the protagonist, Samantha, to be completely unsympathetic and unfortunate. It was impossible to gain a vested interest in this story when it was her story. It didn’t help that my ARC had so many words missing letters, making it incredibly difficult to read. I did find that it was written well, however, it took way too long for something to actually start moving in this story. I called it quits at 38% and nothing really happened. There was a death, a mystery surrounding said death, Samantha acting like a poor imitation of an investigative reporter, her endless inner ‘poor me’ monologues because her fiance left her, etc.
I’ve read a lot of cozy mysteries and have enjoyed most. While this wasn’t for me, I can see how it could be a winner for someone else.
I’ve read a lot of cozy mysteries and have enjoyed most. While this wasn’t for me, I can see how it could be a winner for someone else.
July 2, 2021
As an avid cozy mystery fan, I'm always nervous when reviewing the first in a new series, especially if I'm not familiar with the author.
Sometimes a book surprises you, and A Dash of Death certainly surprised this reader!
Samantha Warren, our protagonist, is devastated. Her fiance dumped her right before the wedding, and her world is turned upside down. Hoping to take her mind off current events, Sam fills a sudden vacancy at a historic homes tour. Mixing cocktails with her own homemade bitters does help keep her focused until a guest suddenly gets sick.
In a matter of hours, Sam becomes a murder suspect, and there's no way she's going to take this sitting down. Her knowledge as a news reporter helps Sam find the clues she's looking for, and she won't stop until the right person is behind bars.
I highly recommend this book, to any reader who truly likes a fast paced, engaging mystery.
The ending was absolutely fantastic and I can't wait to read more in this series by Michelle Hillen Klump.
#NetGalley #ADashofDeath
Sometimes a book surprises you, and A Dash of Death certainly surprised this reader!
Samantha Warren, our protagonist, is devastated. Her fiance dumped her right before the wedding, and her world is turned upside down. Hoping to take her mind off current events, Sam fills a sudden vacancy at a historic homes tour. Mixing cocktails with her own homemade bitters does help keep her focused until a guest suddenly gets sick.
In a matter of hours, Sam becomes a murder suspect, and there's no way she's going to take this sitting down. Her knowledge as a news reporter helps Sam find the clues she's looking for, and she won't stop until the right person is behind bars.
I highly recommend this book, to any reader who truly likes a fast paced, engaging mystery.
The ending was absolutely fantastic and I can't wait to read more in this series by Michelle Hillen Klump.
#NetGalley #ADashofDeath
June 4, 2022
Great debut. The Houston, TX setting is interesting, plus trips further south to Galveston are visited, also. Samantha Warren is a freelance writer who mixes homemade bitters for cocktails as a side job. She has a beautiful tortie cat named Ruby. After mixing cocktails at an important Highlands Historic Home Tour party, she becomes a suspect in a guests’ death. Author Klump shows a keen talent for plotting by stirring up a cocktail of mish-mash suspects that kept this reader on guard as to who really, truly was the killer! While I did have strong suspicions as to who the culprit was, I didn’t know for sure until the end. Delicious recipes follow the story which I recommend to cozy mystery fans!
February 4, 2022
A Dash Of Death is the first book in a new cozy 'A Cocktails and Catering Mystery' series featuring Samantha Warren, a laid off newspaper reporter who is also gets jilted by her boyfriend three weeks before their wedding. She also has a talent for creating 'killer' cocktail drinks which creates a range of problems and opportunities for her in this book. Overall, this was a light, quick read with the author sharing a few food and drinks recipes too at the end of the book.
My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Crooked Lane Books and the author Michelle Hillen Klump for the e-Arc of the book.
Publication date for this book is February 8, 2022.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐✨💫
My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Crooked Lane Books and the author Michelle Hillen Klump for the e-Arc of the book.
Publication date for this book is February 8, 2022.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐✨💫
February 19, 2022
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Readers are introduced to former Houston reporter Samantha Warren and her friends Marisa and Beth. Samantha was supposed to be getting married but her fiancé decided to back out of his commitment leaving her with a ton of heartache. She does have a very interesting hobby of making unique bitters to add to drinks. She had made and bottled a huge batch to use as party favors for her wedding. Stuck with 300 bottles of cherry vanilla bitters Beth and Marisa talk her into being a last-minute replacement to serve cocktails at the Highland Historic Home Tour. She can get rid of her surplus and may find someone interested in buying her products and hiring her to be a party mixologist.
The historic homes party is very well attended and patrons are loving Sam’s drinks until one of the council members becomes ill and later dies. While cleaning up and emptying glasses as the party ends Beth finds a glass containing oleander, a deadly poisonous flower. While Sam would never even consider bringing that flower to any party she still becomes a prime suspect in the man’s death. She quickly realizes she needs to tap into her reporter talents to find out who would want the man dead and how they did it in the middle of a crowded event. She is also dealing with her ex’s phone calls and the feelings she still has for him. Add to that building her mixology business she has her hands full.
Growing up my parents owned a tavern and helping out behind the bar I learned that a dash of bitters was important in drinks like an Old Fashioned. Since then the bitters field has grown to now include several different flavors. In A Dash of Death Samantha is passionate about coming up with as many new and exciting flavors as she can and developing signature drinks to use them in. I was very intrigued by this new cozy mystery theme immediately. Samantha comes up with some crazy concoctions and most of them really work.
Samantha is an interesting protagonist. Losing her reporter job nine months prior to losing her fiancé really turned her life upside down and she really needs time to adjust. That may be why I had such a hard time connecting with her at first. She was starting to grow on me by the end of the story. As her life gets more on track I know she will be more identifiable. Thankfully the author surrounded her with a strong supporting cast. Her friends have her back and I really enjoyed any time the three of them were together. Samantha also meets someone new that could be pivotal in her life going forward.
The mystery was well-plotted. Samantha’s reporter skills come in handy as she tried to find the killer. A surprise lawsuit shakes things up a bit but my focus was continually drawn to one person. For the life of me though I couldn’t figure out their motive without a bunch more clues being revealed. I really did enjoy following along with Sam step by step until everything clicked into place. Ms. Klump did an excellent job of giving Samantha different theories to present to the police in hopes of drawing their attention away from herself. It is clear to see the author’s journalism background in the way her protagonist attacks her investigation. I really enjoyed the descriptive style of writing that brought the story to life in so many ways.
Ms. Klump has set this series off to a wonderful start. I really want to get to know Samantha better and to see her succeed and be happy. She and Beth seem to have a plan and I hope they can make it work because you know with a cozy mystery series they are going to face their share of dead bodies. I think this author and this series have a lot of promise and I am looking forward to wherever she takes her characters next.
Readers are introduced to former Houston reporter Samantha Warren and her friends Marisa and Beth. Samantha was supposed to be getting married but her fiancé decided to back out of his commitment leaving her with a ton of heartache. She does have a very interesting hobby of making unique bitters to add to drinks. She had made and bottled a huge batch to use as party favors for her wedding. Stuck with 300 bottles of cherry vanilla bitters Beth and Marisa talk her into being a last-minute replacement to serve cocktails at the Highland Historic Home Tour. She can get rid of her surplus and may find someone interested in buying her products and hiring her to be a party mixologist.
The historic homes party is very well attended and patrons are loving Sam’s drinks until one of the council members becomes ill and later dies. While cleaning up and emptying glasses as the party ends Beth finds a glass containing oleander, a deadly poisonous flower. While Sam would never even consider bringing that flower to any party she still becomes a prime suspect in the man’s death. She quickly realizes she needs to tap into her reporter talents to find out who would want the man dead and how they did it in the middle of a crowded event. She is also dealing with her ex’s phone calls and the feelings she still has for him. Add to that building her mixology business she has her hands full.
Growing up my parents owned a tavern and helping out behind the bar I learned that a dash of bitters was important in drinks like an Old Fashioned. Since then the bitters field has grown to now include several different flavors. In A Dash of Death Samantha is passionate about coming up with as many new and exciting flavors as she can and developing signature drinks to use them in. I was very intrigued by this new cozy mystery theme immediately. Samantha comes up with some crazy concoctions and most of them really work.
Samantha is an interesting protagonist. Losing her reporter job nine months prior to losing her fiancé really turned her life upside down and she really needs time to adjust. That may be why I had such a hard time connecting with her at first. She was starting to grow on me by the end of the story. As her life gets more on track I know she will be more identifiable. Thankfully the author surrounded her with a strong supporting cast. Her friends have her back and I really enjoyed any time the three of them were together. Samantha also meets someone new that could be pivotal in her life going forward.
The mystery was well-plotted. Samantha’s reporter skills come in handy as she tried to find the killer. A surprise lawsuit shakes things up a bit but my focus was continually drawn to one person. For the life of me though I couldn’t figure out their motive without a bunch more clues being revealed. I really did enjoy following along with Sam step by step until everything clicked into place. Ms. Klump did an excellent job of giving Samantha different theories to present to the police in hopes of drawing their attention away from herself. It is clear to see the author’s journalism background in the way her protagonist attacks her investigation. I really enjoyed the descriptive style of writing that brought the story to life in so many ways.
Ms. Klump has set this series off to a wonderful start. I really want to get to know Samantha better and to see her succeed and be happy. She and Beth seem to have a plan and I hope they can make it work because you know with a cozy mystery series they are going to face their share of dead bodies. I think this author and this series have a lot of promise and I am looking forward to wherever she takes her characters next.
Want to read
August 8, 2025Mood/Seasonal Reading: May
October 21, 2021
It was a well-written story, but it took way too much time for something to happen, Not a real masterpiece, but it's still a nice read! I did love that the protagonist was a reporter turned mixologist. For a protagonist in a cozy mystery, this was a totally different kind of hobby. This is a smart, satisfying read with a splash of cool cocktails! The main character was hard for me to relate to. I enjoyed the book despite the easy identification of the killer.
Thank you Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley for this ARC. This was an honest review.
Thank you Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley for this ARC. This was an honest review.
December 5, 2021
I initially decided to not review this book after I had difficulty becoming engaged due to 113 instances of missing letters from words in the first chapter alone, making it a chore to read as it took me out of the book in order to figure out what the word with missing letters was. As this wasn't the first time this had happened with this publisher's offerings on NetGalley, I reached out to the author to let her know.
She was quite receptive and let me know that the issues had come to the publisher's attention, and that A NEW VERSION WAS AVAILABLE! I checked to see if I could get an updated copy by re-downloading it, and it was in fact the newer version.
I am so happy that I did so! This book is absolutely wonderful! As a former reporter myself, I found the main character relatable, but beyond that, the mystery is complex and intriguing, making the book a definite page turner. The supporting characters are complex and the settings are described in depth and intricately. Ms. Klump is an excellent writer, and has crafted a wonderful book.
If you got one of the early versions of this book, please do the author a solid and download the updated version. You will be glad you did.
#ADashofDeath #NetGalley
She was quite receptive and let me know that the issues had come to the publisher's attention, and that A NEW VERSION WAS AVAILABLE! I checked to see if I could get an updated copy by re-downloading it, and it was in fact the newer version.
I am so happy that I did so! This book is absolutely wonderful! As a former reporter myself, I found the main character relatable, but beyond that, the mystery is complex and intriguing, making the book a definite page turner. The supporting characters are complex and the settings are described in depth and intricately. Ms. Klump is an excellent writer, and has crafted a wonderful book.
If you got one of the early versions of this book, please do the author a solid and download the updated version. You will be glad you did.
#ADashofDeath #NetGalley
May 27, 2022
Very slow and boring. In the first 70 pages every other page mentioned the ex and it got really old really fast
January 17, 2022
A Dash Of Death is the first book in a new series, “A Cocktails and Catering Mystery.” I have to say that although this book is not the worst cozy out there, it isn’t the best either; it is a little below average. Samantha was jilted just before her wedding; she lost her job as a reporter and has to find a way to put her life back together. When her friends encourage her to use the handmade bitters she created for her wedding guest at a historical home tour, she jumps at the chance. If nothing else, she can get rid of the daily reminder of how her life was destroyed overnight. Unfortunately, during the tour, one of the cocktails that she creates ends up being the main clue in the murder of a guest.
A murder using Samantha’s bitters is just the topping of a lot of bad events, and she is determined not to take the fall for someone’s crime. The cocktails may flow, but the evidence doesn’t come in a pretty blue bottle. She didn’t know the victim, and she didn’t really know any suspects. As far as she can tell, what clues she does find all point to one person, the victim’s wife, Gabby. But Samantha doesn’t believe the woman is any more guilty than she is, and she sets out to prove that even everything isn’t what it seems. Taking risks and seeking out a killer may not be the best cocktail, but it definitely gets results.
There is a time of character building and relationship bonding with any new series. Unfortunately, the bonding part with the main character, Samantha, isn’t easy. For the most part, she is not a character that I can empathize with, at least not at first. Other characters, such as Samantha’s best friends, are likable but don’t jump off the page. In addition, the setting isn’t awe-inspiring, and the plot wasn’t original. The killer was not challenging to figure out and the red herrings were simply not strong enough to lead readers away from the truth. I managed to read this book to the bitter end, but I found it a difficult cocktail to swallow.
Overall, A Dash Of Death is an average story with average characters, but it can be far more. I liked the idea of the cocktails and creating your own bitters; recipes for the bitters would have been good. By the end of the book, Samantha had grown a tiny bit, giving me hope for future books in this series. I liked the ending and found it left me with a desire to read the next book. It also left me wanting to see this series mature and grow. I think the author has talent, but the plot and the characters need work.
A murder using Samantha’s bitters is just the topping of a lot of bad events, and she is determined not to take the fall for someone’s crime. The cocktails may flow, but the evidence doesn’t come in a pretty blue bottle. She didn’t know the victim, and she didn’t really know any suspects. As far as she can tell, what clues she does find all point to one person, the victim’s wife, Gabby. But Samantha doesn’t believe the woman is any more guilty than she is, and she sets out to prove that even everything isn’t what it seems. Taking risks and seeking out a killer may not be the best cocktail, but it definitely gets results.
There is a time of character building and relationship bonding with any new series. Unfortunately, the bonding part with the main character, Samantha, isn’t easy. For the most part, she is not a character that I can empathize with, at least not at first. Other characters, such as Samantha’s best friends, are likable but don’t jump off the page. In addition, the setting isn’t awe-inspiring, and the plot wasn’t original. The killer was not challenging to figure out and the red herrings were simply not strong enough to lead readers away from the truth. I managed to read this book to the bitter end, but I found it a difficult cocktail to swallow.
Overall, A Dash Of Death is an average story with average characters, but it can be far more. I liked the idea of the cocktails and creating your own bitters; recipes for the bitters would have been good. By the end of the book, Samantha had grown a tiny bit, giving me hope for future books in this series. I liked the ending and found it left me with a desire to read the next book. It also left me wanting to see this series mature and grow. I think the author has talent, but the plot and the characters need work.
July 16, 2021
A Dash of Death is a winning mixture of bitters and sweet with a satisfying mystery and a protagonist you'll toast to!
February 6, 2022
A great start to a new series! It did take a while to get into this one since I had an ARC missing letters and huge sections of text in the wrong places but I got through it. I loved the setting and the emphasis on cocktails, particularly bitters, which I do not know much about but have learned so much. Samantha seemed to be level-headed, although she did make a few TSTL mistakes. I enjoyed getting to know her and her friends. The mystery was interesting and I had no idea who the killer was until the very end.
I received a copy from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received a copy from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 13, 2023
This was an entertaining debut to a cozy mystery series. The characters were interesting and relatable, however I would like to see Samatha have more confidence. With her being a report I felt at times she let others put to much doubt in her head. The mystery as well lotted with plenty of twists. I recommend this to cozy mystery fans.
All thoughts and opinions are my own, and I have not been influenced by anyone.
All thoughts and opinions are my own, and I have not been influenced by anyone.
January 7, 2022
This is the first book in the Cocktails and Catering Mystery series, and boy is it a great beginning. I really like Sam as a character, especially her pluck and can’t wait to see what she and her friends get up to in future books. I also appreciate the unique spin on a culinary cozy with Sam’s passion for creating cocktail Bitters. The mystery was interesting and very well paced. I very much look forward to reading many more entries in the series.
I received a copy of this book via Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
I received a copy of this book via Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
July 11, 2021
A Dash of Death by Michelle Hillen Klump is a great cozy mystery that is the first in an awesome new series: a Cocktails and Catering Mystery.
This is a great way to start off a new series. I enjoyed the murder/mystery plot. It was complex, but yet not too convoluted. There were plenty of potential suspects that helped shroud the culprit.
I really liked Samantha (Sam) and her experience as a reporter as well as her current gig as a mixologist, is an interesting combo that opens up a lot of opportunities for situations and different groups of people that can be included into a vast array of narratives.
I liked the Texan feel and the southwestern charm infused throughout the book. I think this really has potential, and am looking forward to seeing where this goes.
5/5 stars
Thank you NG and Crooked Lane Books for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication.
This is a great way to start off a new series. I enjoyed the murder/mystery plot. It was complex, but yet not too convoluted. There were plenty of potential suspects that helped shroud the culprit.
I really liked Samantha (Sam) and her experience as a reporter as well as her current gig as a mixologist, is an interesting combo that opens up a lot of opportunities for situations and different groups of people that can be included into a vast array of narratives.
I liked the Texan feel and the southwestern charm infused throughout the book. I think this really has potential, and am looking forward to seeing where this goes.
5/5 stars
Thank you NG and Crooked Lane Books for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication.
February 13, 2022
A Dash of Death by Michelle Hillen Klump is the first book in a well written, fast-paced cozy mystery. I got to meet Samantha Warren, a reporter who has lost her fiancé, Gregory Price just days before their wedding, and her reporter's job. Sam is building her own mixology business and has agreed to provide the cocktails for the Highlands Historic Home Tour, filling in at the eleventh hour as the local brewery cancelled. Encouraged by friends Beth and Marisa, Sam is using the cherry-vanilla bitters that would have been wedding favours. But one of the members of the council, Mark dies after drinking her brew.
Set in Houston, Texas, Sam is the owner of an orange and grey cat named Ruby. I liked Sam, finding her to be level-headed and pretty positive in spite of her circumstances. The mystery is complex and intriguing and I had no idea who the killer was until the great ending. I am eager for Samantha’s next adventure.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Crooked Lane via NetGalley and this review is my unbiased opinion.
Set in Houston, Texas, Sam is the owner of an orange and grey cat named Ruby. I liked Sam, finding her to be level-headed and pretty positive in spite of her circumstances. The mystery is complex and intriguing and I had no idea who the killer was until the great ending. I am eager for Samantha’s next adventure.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Crooked Lane via NetGalley and this review is my unbiased opinion.
September 12, 2021
I fell in love with this book immediately. Samantha is a great character who you can relate too. The book was written so well. I kept guessing throughout the whole book who the real killer was. It was also refreshing for a character to have a different type of job. I didn’t know anything about bitters and it was interesting to learn about. I’ll be counting down the days until the next book comes out!
July 2, 2021
I read this one in a few hours. Please let this be a new series [pretty sure it is] and issue more books immediately. A Dash of Death lends a new twist to this genre. I don’t want to give a lot away but this one promises to be a winner.
January 28, 2022
An okay start to a new series. I liked the addition of a same sex couple and the protagonist's side hustle which make the story unique.
Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own
Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own
January 19, 2022
A DASH OF DEATH, the first book in the brand-new Cocktails and Catering Mystery series by Michelle Hillen Klump, is off to a good start. With a unique twist in the culinary cozy mystery genre, protagonist, ex-reporter Samantha Warren, concocts homemade cocktail bitters. There are delicious descriptions and cocktails mentioned throughout to make the reader feel warm and comforted as the mystery unfolds. I enjoyed the set up with Samantha roped into working at a historical homes tour event on what should have been the evening of her wedding. Jilted by her fiancé only three weeks earlier, on top of losing her newspaper journalist position nine months before that, Samantha has a lot of life changes to overcome. She’s a sympathetic character given all that she’s had to endure. Then things go from bad to worse when someone becomes ill and then dies after consuming one of her cocktails at the event. Ms. Klump writes with a descriptive voice that makes the action and details come to life. I could hear the ice clattering in the cocktail shakers, smell the tang of lemon peels, and taste the sweet bite of cherry mixed with gin.
Given it was her cocktail that might have killed the guest, Samantha becomes a suspect. It doesn’t take long for the victim’s ex-wife to serve her with a lawsuit. With a background in reporting for the newspaper, Samantha knows she needs to start digging into who had motive and means to commit murder and does so in a more energetic way than the usual amateur sleuth. But the results pay off and she ends up with several possibilities with the hope that the police will focus on them instead. As she uncovers secrets, Samantha joins forces with an unlikely partner which provides some twists and turns. With an edge-of-your-seat reveal that I didn’t see coming, the author wraps up the threads of the story and subplots neatly. There’s a hint at new beginnings for Samantha and I look forward to seeing what’s coming next!
Between bitters, cocktails, and yummy food mentioned throughout, be prepared to be both hungry and thirsty as you read. Ms. Klump has kindly included several recipes at the back of the book.
I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Given it was her cocktail that might have killed the guest, Samantha becomes a suspect. It doesn’t take long for the victim’s ex-wife to serve her with a lawsuit. With a background in reporting for the newspaper, Samantha knows she needs to start digging into who had motive and means to commit murder and does so in a more energetic way than the usual amateur sleuth. But the results pay off and she ends up with several possibilities with the hope that the police will focus on them instead. As she uncovers secrets, Samantha joins forces with an unlikely partner which provides some twists and turns. With an edge-of-your-seat reveal that I didn’t see coming, the author wraps up the threads of the story and subplots neatly. There’s a hint at new beginnings for Samantha and I look forward to seeing what’s coming next!
Between bitters, cocktails, and yummy food mentioned throughout, be prepared to be both hungry and thirsty as you read. Ms. Klump has kindly included several recipes at the back of the book.
I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
April 17, 2022
Thanks to NG and the publisher for a copy of this book.
So, let’s just finish this real quick.
The main character, Samantha, is a cardboard cutout made for all mystery-loving mothers to put themselves in the position of. She is supposed to be mature enough to solve a murder, but not put herself together? It is so hard too believe that she is capable of solving the murder. She is a very passive character, always stumbling into evidence even thought the author wants to make you believe otherwise. She has no real personality outside her Greg drama and the murder, both of which happening TO her. Which again, proves my point.
The plot started as decent, but then went downhill because of the out-of-nowhere twist that was very no-no. There are no real clues that hint at the idea, and it makes it seem like the author came up with it a few minutes before her deadline. The problem is, Samantha’s life and career are too close to the author’s…Reminds me of Addison Rae not being able to play her own life.
The almost horrible and underwhelming writing worsens the problems of our plot. The author tries her best to trick the reader. Spoiler alert: she fails miserably. This effort pushes the story into being one huge piece of shit where half of it is just about a very irrelevant series of events that does not get anyone anywhere. To be completely honest, I kind of skimmed through the second half of the book because of the writing and leads that never go anywhere. There is some action in the last 10% of the novel.
There is no real focus into the actually interesting lives of any other character than Samantha and her Greg guy. We do not get to know anything about Samantha herself or her family, because silly me, where else would the delusional sides to her nonexistent character go? Klump had to prioritise and she chose this.
The only thing i liked was the little section of recipes. That’s it, really…
So, let’s just finish this real quick.
The main character, Samantha, is a cardboard cutout made for all mystery-loving mothers to put themselves in the position of. She is supposed to be mature enough to solve a murder, but not put herself together? It is so hard too believe that she is capable of solving the murder. She is a very passive character, always stumbling into evidence even thought the author wants to make you believe otherwise. She has no real personality outside her Greg drama and the murder, both of which happening TO her. Which again, proves my point.
The plot started as decent, but then went downhill because of the out-of-nowhere twist that was very no-no. There are no real clues that hint at the idea, and it makes it seem like the author came up with it a few minutes before her deadline. The problem is, Samantha’s life and career are too close to the author’s…Reminds me of Addison Rae not being able to play her own life.
The almost horrible and underwhelming writing worsens the problems of our plot. The author tries her best to trick the reader. Spoiler alert: she fails miserably. This effort pushes the story into being one huge piece of shit where half of it is just about a very irrelevant series of events that does not get anyone anywhere. To be completely honest, I kind of skimmed through the second half of the book because of the writing and leads that never go anywhere. There is some action in the last 10% of the novel.
There is no real focus into the actually interesting lives of any other character than Samantha and her Greg guy. We do not get to know anything about Samantha herself or her family, because silly me, where else would the delusional sides to her nonexistent character go? Klump had to prioritise and she chose this.
The only thing i liked was the little section of recipes. That’s it, really…
February 8, 2022
A Dash Of Death is the first book in the A Cocktails And Catering Mystery series.
Samantha Warren lost her job as a newspaper reporter in a short period and had her fiance, Greg, call off their wedding three weeks prior. Her best friends, Marisa and Beth, convince Samantha to participate in the Highland Historic Commission's benefit when a local brewery cancels. Samantha has been experimenting with making various flavors of bitters. She has three hundred bottles that she had planned to put in gift bags for her wedding guests. Now, she will be preparing drinks and selling the bitters bottles at the benefit, hoping this will be the start of a successful business for her.
Sales are going better than Samantha expected. But that could change when a member of the Historic Commission, Mark, becomes ill shortly after consuming a drink that Samantha had prepared. Mark is rushed to the hospital, where he will be pronounced dead. An autopsy will show that he was poisoned by oleander added to his drink.
Samantha quickly becomes the prime suspect, even though she doesn’t know any of the attendees at the function. Soon, Mark’s ex-wife, Gabby, files a suit charging Samantha and Commission with wrongful death. Samantha realizes that she needs to use her investigative skills to clear her name as a reporter. She will soon find that there are plenty of other suspects. Through her investigation, she feels that Gabby is probably not the killer and will start to work together to learn the identity of the murderer.
The book is well-written and plotted. The author used enough red herrings that I kept guessing until the end as to the killer's identity. The book also contains an exciting cast of believable and interesting characters.
The book reads at a good pace. The one thing that I got a little tired of was Samantha’s frequent thoughts to Greg, who left her standing at the altar.
Recipes are also included with the book.
I will be watching for the next book in this new series.
Samantha Warren lost her job as a newspaper reporter in a short period and had her fiance, Greg, call off their wedding three weeks prior. Her best friends, Marisa and Beth, convince Samantha to participate in the Highland Historic Commission's benefit when a local brewery cancels. Samantha has been experimenting with making various flavors of bitters. She has three hundred bottles that she had planned to put in gift bags for her wedding guests. Now, she will be preparing drinks and selling the bitters bottles at the benefit, hoping this will be the start of a successful business for her.
Sales are going better than Samantha expected. But that could change when a member of the Historic Commission, Mark, becomes ill shortly after consuming a drink that Samantha had prepared. Mark is rushed to the hospital, where he will be pronounced dead. An autopsy will show that he was poisoned by oleander added to his drink.
Samantha quickly becomes the prime suspect, even though she doesn’t know any of the attendees at the function. Soon, Mark’s ex-wife, Gabby, files a suit charging Samantha and Commission with wrongful death. Samantha realizes that she needs to use her investigative skills to clear her name as a reporter. She will soon find that there are plenty of other suspects. Through her investigation, she feels that Gabby is probably not the killer and will start to work together to learn the identity of the murderer.
The book is well-written and plotted. The author used enough red herrings that I kept guessing until the end as to the killer's identity. The book also contains an exciting cast of believable and interesting characters.
The book reads at a good pace. The one thing that I got a little tired of was Samantha’s frequent thoughts to Greg, who left her standing at the altar.
Recipes are also included with the book.
I will be watching for the next book in this new series.
October 2, 2022
A fabulous start to a new cozy series!! We meet Samantha as she is dealing with end of her relationship with her ex during the time that would have been their wedding day. This obviously causes her some emotional issues but her friends distract her by having her serve cocktails while selling the bitters she made as part of her wedding at a big event in their area. Things start off great with her keeping busy while s pretty much selling out of her bitters until a guest starts to not feel well causing him to leave early. Later he dies thanks to his cocktail being spiked with oleander. This makes Sam a main suspect so she starts asking some questions leading to a fun read as the clues play out. Quite entertaining from page one and I am looking forward to more in the series as we get to know Sam better. A great choice for cozy fans. I totally loved it so I give it 5/5 stars.
December 15, 2021
Being an herbalist who makes her own bitters (they are not just for cocktails, but help with digestion if taken before meals!) and who loves cozy mysteries, I was really looking forward to A Dash of Death by Michelle Hillen Klump, the first book in A Cocktails and Catering Mystery, but unfortunately I didn’t enjoy it that much.
There just wasn’t much to the story as far as the characters went. I felt Samantha, who had been a reporter, should have been more analytical and less wishy-washy when it came to investigating and trusting people one minute and then doing a complete about face the next. And while she was very briefly a suspect, I don’t understand why she wanted to help Gabby out so much, a woman she didn’t know at all and was suing her.
Then there’s the Scooby gang, while I like that her friends are a lesbian couple (we need more diversity of every kind in cozies!) they were kind of unforgettable. No quirkiness or anything else to make them stand out to me and want to read more about them in future books.
And as far as the whodunnit, while I didn’t know the why right away, I did know the who due to there not being enough suspects for the reader to choose from. There are two people that you know didn’t do it due to how cozies are written, so you’re left with only a couple of others to pick from and I thought it was pretty obvious if you stopped to think for a second.
Just a small thing, but while the recipes at the end all look delicious, I was disappointed there weren’t any bitter recipes or bitter history/interesting facts spread out in the book. That’s one of the reasons I read cozies, to learn more about new hobbies and culinary arts.
While I do give Klump kudos for finishing a book (that is a huge feat!) and finding a publisher, I won’t be rushing to read the next book in the Cocktails and Catering Mysteries.
There just wasn’t much to the story as far as the characters went. I felt Samantha, who had been a reporter, should have been more analytical and less wishy-washy when it came to investigating and trusting people one minute and then doing a complete about face the next. And while she was very briefly a suspect, I don’t understand why she wanted to help Gabby out so much, a woman she didn’t know at all and was suing her.
Then there’s the Scooby gang, while I like that her friends are a lesbian couple (we need more diversity of every kind in cozies!) they were kind of unforgettable. No quirkiness or anything else to make them stand out to me and want to read more about them in future books.
And as far as the whodunnit, while I didn’t know the why right away, I did know the who due to there not being enough suspects for the reader to choose from. There are two people that you know didn’t do it due to how cozies are written, so you’re left with only a couple of others to pick from and I thought it was pretty obvious if you stopped to think for a second.
Just a small thing, but while the recipes at the end all look delicious, I was disappointed there weren’t any bitter recipes or bitter history/interesting facts spread out in the book. That’s one of the reasons I read cozies, to learn more about new hobbies and culinary arts.
While I do give Klump kudos for finishing a book (that is a huge feat!) and finding a publisher, I won’t be rushing to read the next book in the Cocktails and Catering Mysteries.
October 8, 2021
Samantha Warren has lost everything. Her job, her dream home, even her fiancé. When a friend offers her the chance to hock what would have been the gifts for her wedding guests on what should have been her wedding night, she jumps at the chance to kill two birds with one stone. Instead of spending the evening recouping some of the costs of the wedding-that-wasn't and keeping herself from wallowing in self-pity, Samantha finds herself knee-deep in a murder investigation.
I really enjoyed this book. Though I've read hundreds of cozy mysteries this one was unique in a lot of ways. I haven't read many cozies set in Texas and most cozies are set in small towns, so getting a virtual tour of Houston and the little communities that make up the large city was really interesting. I've long been interested in historical preservation so that aspect was compelling too. Samantha having been an investigative reporter in her former career was a great angle, it gave her some insight into how to conduct an investigation and made it a no-brainer for her to pursue the truth.
The killer was pretty easy to identify but I don't think that took away from my enjoyment of the book. Despite knowing whodunnit there was still the question of how to prove it and what trouble would Samantha get herself into in the process. I also really liked the ending. Samantha has suffered a lot of loss but she's a fighter and she never loses faith that things will get better... therefore things do get better. Too many people think that hope is something that needs to be provided to them by someone else, but Samantha makes her own and you have to love her for that. I'm very much looking forward to continuing this series.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
I really enjoyed this book. Though I've read hundreds of cozy mysteries this one was unique in a lot of ways. I haven't read many cozies set in Texas and most cozies are set in small towns, so getting a virtual tour of Houston and the little communities that make up the large city was really interesting. I've long been interested in historical preservation so that aspect was compelling too. Samantha having been an investigative reporter in her former career was a great angle, it gave her some insight into how to conduct an investigation and made it a no-brainer for her to pursue the truth.
The killer was pretty easy to identify but I don't think that took away from my enjoyment of the book. Despite knowing whodunnit there was still the question of how to prove it and what trouble would Samantha get herself into in the process. I also really liked the ending. Samantha has suffered a lot of loss but she's a fighter and she never loses faith that things will get better... therefore things do get better. Too many people think that hope is something that needs to be provided to them by someone else, but Samantha makes her own and you have to love her for that. I'm very much looking forward to continuing this series.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
August 9, 2021
A smart, satisfying read with a dash of cool cocktails!
I adored Michelle Hillen Klump’s A Dash of Death. Being a former journalist, I’m enamored with any mystery where the sleuth is a reporter. Samantha is a recently laid-off journalist whose hobby is making cocktail bitters—a match made in heaven if I ever read one. When she caters a community event with her drink concoctions, a guest is found dead. The guest’s estranged wife files a civil suit against Samantha, who is cobbling together income as a copy editor. But when the lawsuit threatens that source of income, she’s desperate to clear her name, and launches her own investigation. I loved that the book was set in Houston, with scenes in Galveston—I really enjoy when cozies are set in big cities because it's a departure from the norm. Samantha’s personal life plays a big role in the narrative, and it makes for an instant connection with her character. The author’s prose is lively and light, but this is no frothy cozy mystery. It’s a well-plotted, well-written mystery, and I can’t wait to read the next in the series.
I adored Michelle Hillen Klump’s A Dash of Death. Being a former journalist, I’m enamored with any mystery where the sleuth is a reporter. Samantha is a recently laid-off journalist whose hobby is making cocktail bitters—a match made in heaven if I ever read one. When she caters a community event with her drink concoctions, a guest is found dead. The guest’s estranged wife files a civil suit against Samantha, who is cobbling together income as a copy editor. But when the lawsuit threatens that source of income, she’s desperate to clear her name, and launches her own investigation. I loved that the book was set in Houston, with scenes in Galveston—I really enjoy when cozies are set in big cities because it's a departure from the norm. Samantha’s personal life plays a big role in the narrative, and it makes for an instant connection with her character. The author’s prose is lively and light, but this is no frothy cozy mystery. It’s a well-plotted, well-written mystery, and I can’t wait to read the next in the series.
November 20, 2021
This book is really a fun, easy and cozy mystery. This is about a women name Samantha and she is having a hard time getting over her now ex calling off the wedding and moving away. Her friends convince her to do this gig selling her bitters at a prestigious event. During the event someone was murder by poison from her bitters. After this happens we go on a wild ride full suspense and twist and turns. I Really enjoyed this book, it really kept me on my toes once i thought i knew who poisoned Mark (the guy from the event) I was thrown a twist to keep me guessing who it was. This book gave off such Clue vibes of trying to figure out who did it. Really fun and a great book!
August 14, 2023
After getting dumped on the eve of her wedding after losing her job, Samantha Warren seriously needs to decide out what to do with her life. First step is making use of the hundreds of little bottles of her artisan bitters at an event for historic preservation. Things were going great until someone got sick, then died. With her background of investigive reporter, she uses her talent to figure how and why it happened. Interesting debut cozy, that shows potential for continued success. Heroine smart, but not perfect which makes her more intriguing. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
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