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Key West Food Critic Mystery #12
A Dish to Die For
National bestselling author Lucy Burdette returns to Key West for another delectable dish of secrets, intrigue, and murder.
Peace and quiet are hard to find in bustling Key West, so Hayley Snow, food critic for Key Zest magazine, is taking the afternoon off for a tranquil lunch with a friend outside of town. As they are enjoying the wild beach and the lunch, she realizes that her husband Nathan’s dog, Ziggy, has disappeared. She follows his barking, to find him furiously digging at a shallow grave with a man’s body in it. Davis Jager, a local birdwatcher, identifies him as GG Garcia, a rabble-rousing Key West local and developer. Garcia was famous for over-development on the fragile Keys, womanizing, and refusing to follow city rules—so it’s no wonder he had a few enemies.
When Davis is attacked in the parking lot of a local restaurant after talking to Hayley and her dear friend, the octogenarian Miss Gloria, Hayley is slowly but surely drawn into the case. Hayley’s mother, Janet, has been hired to cater GG’s memorial service reception at the local Woman’s Club, using recipes from their vintage Key West cookbook—and Hayley and Miss Gloria sign on to work with her, hoping to cook up some clues by observing the mourners.
But the real clues appear when Hayley begins to study the old cookbook, as whispers of old secrets come to life, dragging the past into the present—with murderous results.
Peace and quiet are hard to find in bustling Key West, so Hayley Snow, food critic for Key Zest magazine, is taking the afternoon off for a tranquil lunch with a friend outside of town. As they are enjoying the wild beach and the lunch, she realizes that her husband Nathan’s dog, Ziggy, has disappeared. She follows his barking, to find him furiously digging at a shallow grave with a man’s body in it. Davis Jager, a local birdwatcher, identifies him as GG Garcia, a rabble-rousing Key West local and developer. Garcia was famous for over-development on the fragile Keys, womanizing, and refusing to follow city rules—so it’s no wonder he had a few enemies.
When Davis is attacked in the parking lot of a local restaurant after talking to Hayley and her dear friend, the octogenarian Miss Gloria, Hayley is slowly but surely drawn into the case. Hayley’s mother, Janet, has been hired to cater GG’s memorial service reception at the local Woman’s Club, using recipes from their vintage Key West cookbook—and Hayley and Miss Gloria sign on to work with her, hoping to cook up some clues by observing the mourners.
But the real clues appear when Hayley begins to study the old cookbook, as whispers of old secrets come to life, dragging the past into the present—with murderous results.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published August 9, 2022
104 people are currently reading
471 people want to read
About the author
Lucy Burdette
24 books834 followersLucy Burdette is the author of the Key West food critic mysteries. Her first thriller, UNSAFE HAVEN, is out from Severn House this month. As Roberta Isleib, she has also written the golf lovers mystery series and the advice column mysteries. Her books and stories have been nominated for Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity awards. She is the president of the Friends of the Key West Library.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 174 reviews
August 7, 2022
It does not matter at all that I have joined this series at #12 because I loved it anyway. Even better I can now go back and read the eleven preceding books.
Hayley Snow is a food critic for a local magazine on Key West. She lives in a house boat with her police officer husband Nathan, Ziggy the dog and several cats. She gets around town on a motor scooter with Ziggy in a special carrier on the back and apparently this is normal for the town. It all sounds very exotic to this reader from Sydney where transport is a little more ordinary.
It seems Hayley is notorious for discovering dead bodies so it is not a huge surprise when Ziggy digs one up on the beach for her. The rest is true to the cosy format as Hayley puts on her sleuthing hat and goes looking for the murderer. Between Hayley as a food critic and her mother as a successful caterer the author also has plenty of opportunity to provide mention of fabulous foods and I would really love to try a Key Lime Pie!
This was a fun read with nice characters, a good mystery and a rather unusual resolution.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this lovely introduction to a new (for me) author.
Hayley Snow is a food critic for a local magazine on Key West. She lives in a house boat with her police officer husband Nathan, Ziggy the dog and several cats. She gets around town on a motor scooter with Ziggy in a special carrier on the back and apparently this is normal for the town. It all sounds very exotic to this reader from Sydney where transport is a little more ordinary.
It seems Hayley is notorious for discovering dead bodies so it is not a huge surprise when Ziggy digs one up on the beach for her. The rest is true to the cosy format as Hayley puts on her sleuthing hat and goes looking for the murderer. Between Hayley as a food critic and her mother as a successful caterer the author also has plenty of opportunity to provide mention of fabulous foods and I would really love to try a Key Lime Pie!
This was a fun read with nice characters, a good mystery and a rather unusual resolution.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this lovely introduction to a new (for me) author.
May 2, 2022
Hayley writes a food column for her local key West FL paper. She and her new husband, Nathan live on a houseboat with their pets, and when she and her friend visit the local dog park, they are shocked when Ziggy's digging uncovers a body. Turns out the deceased is one of the most despicable people on the island, but law enforcement still must look into his cause of death--with Hayley's assistance, of course. Delicious sounding recipes are included. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
August 10, 2022
Even when you live in paradise, you need a break. That’s why Hayley Snow is taking a few hours with her friend Eric and their dogs and heading to a beach on one of the nearby islands. However, the day takes a sad turn when Hayley’s dog finds a dead body half buried in the sand. The man was G.G. Garcia, a Key West developer who had a bad reputation. The local police think there is something suspicious about his death, and Hayley gets pulled into the investigation. Will she figure out what really happened?
I’ve fallen in love with Key West thanks to this series, and I was happy to be back. Sadly, the mystery was very weak. Even the characters got frustrated by their lack of progress throughout the book. Plus, the victim was a little too evil, with a few things that felt thrown in just to make other characters feel virtuous. The book gets a little dark and edgy for a cozy as well. Finally, there’s a subplot that comes across as half-baked, the characters involved definitely deserved better. On the other hand, I really did enjoy the location and the series regulars. Nathan, Hayley’s husband, gets some good development thanks to a visit from his estranged father. If you are new to the series, this isn’t the book for you, but fans will enjoy catching up with the characters.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
I’ve fallen in love with Key West thanks to this series, and I was happy to be back. Sadly, the mystery was very weak. Even the characters got frustrated by their lack of progress throughout the book. Plus, the victim was a little too evil, with a few things that felt thrown in just to make other characters feel virtuous. The book gets a little dark and edgy for a cozy as well. Finally, there’s a subplot that comes across as half-baked, the characters involved definitely deserved better. On the other hand, I really did enjoy the location and the series regulars. Nathan, Hayley’s husband, gets some good development thanks to a visit from his estranged father. If you are new to the series, this isn’t the book for you, but fans will enjoy catching up with the characters.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
February 24, 2025
I like this series . I don’t like her husband though . I didn’t love the recipes like I do most of them. I really do feel like I’m in the Keys , hopefully someday I’ll go there.
August 13, 2022
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Hayley taking her husband’s dog Ziggy to the beach and having lunch with a friend should have been a fun afternoon. But that darn Ziggy found an eerie treasure while digging to his heart’s content. Hayley couldn’t see him but she follows his yips and barks and finds him with a very dead body in a shallow grave. The man is identified by local birdwatcher, Davis Jager. It’s GG Garcia, a local developer who has been ruffling a lot of feathers because of his proposed development on the vulnerable Keyes. He is not fond of following the rules and he is a womanizer to boot.
Hayley becomes invested in the case when Davis Jager is attacked soon after talking to her. Since her mother has been asked to cater the memorial service for Garcia, Hayley and Miss Gloria decide it is the perfect place to catch a lot of the suspects in one place. Nathan wishes Hayley would leave the investigation to the police but he knows his bride and with his father in town his hands are pretty full.
Hayley and Nathan are settling into the new married life. They are so comfortable together and every word between them sounds true to life. Miss Gloria is right next door in her own houseboat and while Hayley is no longer living there they are still thick as thieves and make a great sleuthing team even if Miss Gloria’s suggestions can really be out there. Haley’s mom’s business is really taking off and she is always ready for a dinner party. In this story, Nathan’s dad is in town to lead some police training, and Nathan is exhausted trying to keep up with the man and maybe trying to impress him just a bit. All the characters Ms. Burdette has created are strong and gain depth in every new story. When she introduces a new character she gives just enough background and allows that character to evolve over the course of the story and beyond if they return in another book.
The mystery was complex but I was really drawn to the vintage cookbook, notes, and diary aspect of the story even before I realized their relevance. Soon I was totally engrossed by the story. The well-plotted storylines, the descriptions of the fragile Keys, and all the glorious food. Lucy Burdette is a wonderful storyteller and again her talent shines in A Dish to Die For.
I love catching up with these characters. I am always entertained by their daily lives and the drama that always seems to find them. I am excited to see where the author takes her character next.
Hayley taking her husband’s dog Ziggy to the beach and having lunch with a friend should have been a fun afternoon. But that darn Ziggy found an eerie treasure while digging to his heart’s content. Hayley couldn’t see him but she follows his yips and barks and finds him with a very dead body in a shallow grave. The man is identified by local birdwatcher, Davis Jager. It’s GG Garcia, a local developer who has been ruffling a lot of feathers because of his proposed development on the vulnerable Keyes. He is not fond of following the rules and he is a womanizer to boot.
Hayley becomes invested in the case when Davis Jager is attacked soon after talking to her. Since her mother has been asked to cater the memorial service for Garcia, Hayley and Miss Gloria decide it is the perfect place to catch a lot of the suspects in one place. Nathan wishes Hayley would leave the investigation to the police but he knows his bride and with his father in town his hands are pretty full.
Hayley and Nathan are settling into the new married life. They are so comfortable together and every word between them sounds true to life. Miss Gloria is right next door in her own houseboat and while Hayley is no longer living there they are still thick as thieves and make a great sleuthing team even if Miss Gloria’s suggestions can really be out there. Haley’s mom’s business is really taking off and she is always ready for a dinner party. In this story, Nathan’s dad is in town to lead some police training, and Nathan is exhausted trying to keep up with the man and maybe trying to impress him just a bit. All the characters Ms. Burdette has created are strong and gain depth in every new story. When she introduces a new character she gives just enough background and allows that character to evolve over the course of the story and beyond if they return in another book.
The mystery was complex but I was really drawn to the vintage cookbook, notes, and diary aspect of the story even before I realized their relevance. Soon I was totally engrossed by the story. The well-plotted storylines, the descriptions of the fragile Keys, and all the glorious food. Lucy Burdette is a wonderful storyteller and again her talent shines in A Dish to Die For.
I love catching up with these characters. I am always entertained by their daily lives and the drama that always seems to find them. I am excited to see where the author takes her character next.
August 15, 2022
"A Dish to Die For" the 12th instalment in the "A Key West Food Critic" Mystery series by Lucy Burdette. This is one of my favourite foodie cozy mystery series..
I really enjoyed this story and hanging out with Haley, Miss Gloria, Nathan and his father! I must say I really do love octogenarian Miss Gloria and her spunk.
The mystery is interesting and well plotted, and I liked trying to figure out who killed the womanizing GG Garcia. I found Nathan’s father to be cold at first but he seemed to warm up as the story unfolded and I hope he appears again in the series. The descriptions of the food was mouth watering, made me want banana cream pie!
I kept second-guessing myself on whodunnit right to the very end. I recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends.
I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I really enjoyed this story and hanging out with Haley, Miss Gloria, Nathan and his father! I must say I really do love octogenarian Miss Gloria and her spunk.
The mystery is interesting and well plotted, and I liked trying to figure out who killed the womanizing GG Garcia. I found Nathan’s father to be cold at first but he seemed to warm up as the story unfolded and I hope he appears again in the series. The descriptions of the food was mouth watering, made me want banana cream pie!
I kept second-guessing myself on whodunnit right to the very end. I recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends.
I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 11, 2022
Even though this is book 12 in the 'Key West Food Critic Mystery' series, and I have only read three other instalments I still jumped at the chance to read A Dish to Die For, finding it a fun, delightful and amusing cozy.
Hayley and police detective Nathan Bransford are enjoying their life together as a married couple, and Hayley is working hard at her job as a food critic. She is enjoying a well-earned afternoon off with her psychologist friend Eric. She has taken her husband's dog called Ziggy Stardust with her and Eric also has two dogs, named Barclay, a terrier, and Chester, a Havanese. They are at Boca Chica Beach on Geiger Key. Hayley and Eric are eating their sandwiches, while the dogs are jumping around in the sea. Then Hayley realises that Ziggy is missing. She finds him in an old hut made of driftwood, but he's not alone... a denim-clad man's corpse is there, too.
Lucy Burdette has created such wonderful characters for this series and this story, and Miss Gloria, Hayley's octogenarian friend and neighbour joins Hayley in the investigation, providing many comedic moments, and I adore her great relationship with Hayley. All of the characters have excellent parts to play and the dialogue is sharp and punchy. The mystery itself was good, although not the best part of the book. The author did a sterling job of describing the foodie delights. This entertaining story has given me the inspiration to read more in the series, especially the first book, An Appetite for Murder. Very highly recommended.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Crooked Lane via NetGalley and this review is my own unbiased opinion.
Hayley and police detective Nathan Bransford are enjoying their life together as a married couple, and Hayley is working hard at her job as a food critic. She is enjoying a well-earned afternoon off with her psychologist friend Eric. She has taken her husband's dog called Ziggy Stardust with her and Eric also has two dogs, named Barclay, a terrier, and Chester, a Havanese. They are at Boca Chica Beach on Geiger Key. Hayley and Eric are eating their sandwiches, while the dogs are jumping around in the sea. Then Hayley realises that Ziggy is missing. She finds him in an old hut made of driftwood, but he's not alone... a denim-clad man's corpse is there, too.
Lucy Burdette has created such wonderful characters for this series and this story, and Miss Gloria, Hayley's octogenarian friend and neighbour joins Hayley in the investigation, providing many comedic moments, and I adore her great relationship with Hayley. All of the characters have excellent parts to play and the dialogue is sharp and punchy. The mystery itself was good, although not the best part of the book. The author did a sterling job of describing the foodie delights. This entertaining story has given me the inspiration to read more in the series, especially the first book, An Appetite for Murder. Very highly recommended.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Crooked Lane via NetGalley and this review is my own unbiased opinion.
July 30, 2022
Having been a huge fan of this entire series for a long time, I found this book to be exceptionally good. I consider Hayley Snow, food critic for a magazine to be my favorite amateur sleuth of all time.
My interest in the murder of the birdwatcher, developer and womanizer was not strong enough to make me interested in the mystery behind the murder. Despite the fact that this guy was exceptionally bad.
GG, the murdered man's memorial service reception was catered by Janet, Hayley's mother. Using recipes from a old Key West Cookbook. What I found really fascinating.
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the ARC. This is an honest review.
My interest in the murder of the birdwatcher, developer and womanizer was not strong enough to make me interested in the mystery behind the murder. Despite the fact that this guy was exceptionally bad.
GG, the murdered man's memorial service reception was catered by Janet, Hayley's mother. Using recipes from a old Key West Cookbook. What I found really fascinating.
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the ARC. This is an honest review.
May 21, 2022
Haley Snow and her penchant for finding dead bodies is back in action again and has us all longing for a visit to the Florida Keys in spite of her knack for uncovering the recently dead! I love this series as it paints such a vivid picture of life in the keys and makes me long for a visit there. The characters are so well developed that you feel like you are hanging out with old friends rather than just reading another book. An intriguing plot with twists and turns to keep you guessing while weaving in Haley's regular life and interactions in a seamless manner make for hours of entertainment. Haley wasn't my favorite character after the first book, but I am so glad that I kept with the series as her growth and that of the other characters have made them even more realistic. I absolutely can't wait to see what the next book has in store for us and Haley's additional duties at the magazine!
August 8, 2022
Another case for Hayley as she gets used to married life, and poor Nathan was agonizing over his dad being in town. Once we met his dad, I didn't eventually think he was so bad. I could almost picture him as DiNozzo Sr. only less jovial or joking around. He seemed like an acquired taste, lol, but Hayley's probably one of the easiest and nicest people to get along with, so I didn't think he'd have any issues with her. She kinda seemed to charm him a little if that was possible.
I like how Miss Gloria got to help out a little with the sleuthing again and after successfully solving the case of "who killed the rich guy on the beach," she got some good news at work too. Always a yummy time visiting Key West with Hayley and friends!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.
I like how Miss Gloria got to help out a little with the sleuthing again and after successfully solving the case of "who killed the rich guy on the beach," she got some good news at work too. Always a yummy time visiting Key West with Hayley and friends!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.
July 26, 2022
Sit back, get comfortable and get ready for another enjoyable trip to Key West. The vivid descriptions, interesting characters and well woven mystery will keep you engrossed in the book until the very end.
I have read this series from the very beginning and love it. The author does such a good job describing things that you can visualize both the characters and setting. Every book seems to have a new interesting character. (Hint -this time it is a family member.) In addition, I really enjoyed the ending with an interesting twist to the murder, further insight to Nathan and something exciting for Hayley. Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.
I have read this series from the very beginning and love it. The author does such a good job describing things that you can visualize both the characters and setting. Every book seems to have a new interesting character. (Hint -this time it is a family member.) In addition, I really enjoyed the ending with an interesting twist to the murder, further insight to Nathan and something exciting for Hayley. Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.
March 15, 2022
I grew up in Florida and have visited Key West, which is definitely a distinct area, so reading this book was a bit like ol' home week. Hayley Snow is an interesting character, brave but not foolhardy as her husband's father, Skip, describes her, and I have enjoyed my past visits with her. She is also a bit of a body magnet, so to speak, and finds a body along the beach while walking Ziggy the dog. Clues are sparse, witnesses seemingly nonexistent, and much of the book seems as focused on her curiosity about an old Key West cookbook, circa 1949, as trying to figure out who murdered GG Garcia. wasn't well liked so there were many suspects. Could their be some connection between the murder and the cookbook?
While Davis Jager, a local birdwatcher who was at the beach when Hayley and Ziggy found the body, wasn't particularly likeable, Hayley's friends and acquaintances were likeable. Ironically, none stood out in my mind as being particularly memorable. They were just good, ordinary people, the sort you know and call friends. That was a plus in my mind. It made the setting more real. Husband Nathan, the almost mandatory in a cozy mystery cop partner/boyfriend or, in Nathan's case, husband, was likeable and while he fretted about Lucy's safety, wasn't overbearing. The introduction of a female officer from another district was also a nice touch and I'm hoping she reappears in future books.
I enjoyed the story. That said, the pace was on the slow side until late in the book. That allowed the author to showcase the setting and, well, bask in the food talk. After all, Hayley does write a food column for the paper. (Yes, there are recipes.) Hayley never seemed in genuine danger and it was genuinely nice to have an amateur sleuth who didn't rush in without thinking simply so the author could have a dramatic ending. As it was, the ending of this one was satisfying, if a bit bittersweet. The past does color the future, let's just say. We got to meet Nathan's father, and watch the beginnings of a tentative new relationship with him, watch Hayley in action, rub elbows with her friends, pet Ziggy, and, yes, enjoy lots of tastes of Key West and it's food and characters.
Thanks to #NetGalley and #CrookedLaneBooks for taking me on this, for me, somewhat nostalgic visit to Key West. I'm already looking forward to my next visit there with Hayley.
While Davis Jager, a local birdwatcher who was at the beach when Hayley and Ziggy found the body, wasn't particularly likeable, Hayley's friends and acquaintances were likeable. Ironically, none stood out in my mind as being particularly memorable. They were just good, ordinary people, the sort you know and call friends. That was a plus in my mind. It made the setting more real. Husband Nathan, the almost mandatory in a cozy mystery cop partner/boyfriend or, in Nathan's case, husband, was likeable and while he fretted about Lucy's safety, wasn't overbearing. The introduction of a female officer from another district was also a nice touch and I'm hoping she reappears in future books.
I enjoyed the story. That said, the pace was on the slow side until late in the book. That allowed the author to showcase the setting and, well, bask in the food talk. After all, Hayley does write a food column for the paper. (Yes, there are recipes.) Hayley never seemed in genuine danger and it was genuinely nice to have an amateur sleuth who didn't rush in without thinking simply so the author could have a dramatic ending. As it was, the ending of this one was satisfying, if a bit bittersweet. The past does color the future, let's just say. We got to meet Nathan's father, and watch the beginnings of a tentative new relationship with him, watch Hayley in action, rub elbows with her friends, pet Ziggy, and, yes, enjoy lots of tastes of Key West and it's food and characters.
Thanks to #NetGalley and #CrookedLaneBooks for taking me on this, for me, somewhat nostalgic visit to Key West. I'm already looking forward to my next visit there with Hayley.
July 28, 2022
A DISH TO DIE FOR is the twelfth book in the Key West Food Critic Mysteries by Lucy Burdette. Filled with endearing characters, mouthwatering food, a tropical locale, and a doozy of a murder, this book will satisfy both armchair detectives and travelers alike. Protagonist Hayley Snow is settling into married life with her detective husband, Nathan, and making their houseboat in Key West a home. Her close friend, octogenarian Miss Gloria, lives next door, and between them, has a menagerie of adorable pets. The author has created a loveable cast of characters that make each book feel you’re visiting with friends. I love the close relationship Hayley has with her friends and family, and am glad that with each book, a new family member is introduced. In this newest release, Hayley’s father-in-law—a retired detective turned consultant—decides to visit the newlyweds. This gives the characters an opportunity to change and grow while giving the reader a glimpse into the psyche of the characters as each conflict is faced.
Set against the backdrop of the Florida Keys, Ms. Burdette captures the tropical spirit of the islands: gentle lapping waves, sandy beaches, seafood dishes, and fruity libations. It draws the reader in, lulling them into a sense of relaxation… that is until murder strikes. And, of course, Hayley, known as the murder magnet, is there when Nathan’s dog finds the victim. Hayley doesn’t plan on getting involved, but when a second attack occurs, she decides it’s time to ask questions. I appreciate that both her husband and her father-in-law don’t tell her to stay home and stay safe. Instead, they recognize her intelligence and pay attention to the information she uncovers. Entwined with the current day murder is a mysterious diary connected to a vintage cookbook. At first, I didn’t see how it was connected at all, but under the expert plotting of Ms. Burdette, it all came together in a cohesive story. The reveal was quite unique and I appreciated the gentle approach the author took. I’m looking forward to the next book in this series and the opportunity to join Hayley and her friends for another Key West adventure!
Being a food critic, Hayley’s life revolves around food. Not only does she visit restaurants galore, but her mother is a caterer, and Hayley herself enjoys cooking. I loved how the author uses the Key West Women’s Club vintage cookbook along with their updated cookbook, not only for the mystery, but for the food and recipes included at the back of the book as well. It’s well worthwhile to read the afterward in the book, along with perusing the recipes.
I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Set against the backdrop of the Florida Keys, Ms. Burdette captures the tropical spirit of the islands: gentle lapping waves, sandy beaches, seafood dishes, and fruity libations. It draws the reader in, lulling them into a sense of relaxation… that is until murder strikes. And, of course, Hayley, known as the murder magnet, is there when Nathan’s dog finds the victim. Hayley doesn’t plan on getting involved, but when a second attack occurs, she decides it’s time to ask questions. I appreciate that both her husband and her father-in-law don’t tell her to stay home and stay safe. Instead, they recognize her intelligence and pay attention to the information she uncovers. Entwined with the current day murder is a mysterious diary connected to a vintage cookbook. At first, I didn’t see how it was connected at all, but under the expert plotting of Ms. Burdette, it all came together in a cohesive story. The reveal was quite unique and I appreciated the gentle approach the author took. I’m looking forward to the next book in this series and the opportunity to join Hayley and her friends for another Key West adventure!
Being a food critic, Hayley’s life revolves around food. Not only does she visit restaurants galore, but her mother is a caterer, and Hayley herself enjoys cooking. I loved how the author uses the Key West Women’s Club vintage cookbook along with their updated cookbook, not only for the mystery, but for the food and recipes included at the back of the book as well. It’s well worthwhile to read the afterward in the book, along with perusing the recipes.
I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 4, 2022
Although this is the 12th book in the Key West Food Critic Mystery series, it’s the first one I’ve read, and it was pretty good. Each chapter starts with a food-related quote - from a book, from an online comment to a New York Times recipe, etc. The main character is Hayley Snow, who works as the food critic for “Key Zest.” The author did a great job of making a new reader comfortable, and also occasionally referred back to previous adventures, which I’m sure will make regular readers of this series smile in recollection.
Key West is a very interesting place, filled with tourists of all sorts, but this is a kind of behind-the-scenes look at how the people who live there all year live. Our main character and her husband, a Key West police officer, live on a houseboat, which I thought was pretty interesting. They have a feisty neighbor, Miss Gloria, who is in her 80s, who plays a fairly large role in this story. I assume she pops up in the other books as well.
The mystery this time is who killed GG Garcia, a well-known, but not well-liked local. Hayley was the one who discovered the body, when she chased after her dog Ziggy, and found him digging in a wooded spot near the beach.
Food descriptions were lovely and did not overwhelm the story, as some food-oriented cozies seem to do. There are some recipes at the end of the book, along with an interesting author’s note, about the Key West Women’s Club and their 1949 cookbook, which features in this story.
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Key West is a very interesting place, filled with tourists of all sorts, but this is a kind of behind-the-scenes look at how the people who live there all year live. Our main character and her husband, a Key West police officer, live on a houseboat, which I thought was pretty interesting. They have a feisty neighbor, Miss Gloria, who is in her 80s, who plays a fairly large role in this story. I assume she pops up in the other books as well.
The mystery this time is who killed GG Garcia, a well-known, but not well-liked local. Hayley was the one who discovered the body, when she chased after her dog Ziggy, and found him digging in a wooded spot near the beach.
Food descriptions were lovely and did not overwhelm the story, as some food-oriented cozies seem to do. There are some recipes at the end of the book, along with an interesting author’s note, about the Key West Women’s Club and their 1949 cookbook, which features in this story.
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
August 2, 2022
I fell in love with Key West the one time I got to visit there. What a fun job getting to eat good food and write a review about it. Kind of like reading a good book and writing a review. The characters are great. I think my favorite is Miss Gloria. I think old cookbooks are treasures. Not that I cook much, but I love going through them. I really liked the storyline, which was very believable. You may even know some people like those in this story. I hope I can make another trip to Key West in the future. I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own. Oh, you’ll find some tasty recipes at the end of the book.
August 23, 2022
Hayley is looking forward to a good meal and a quite afternoon with friends. While enjoying said meal Hayley notices that Ziggy, her husbands dog, is nowhere to be found. She follows the sound of his barking and finds him digging in a hole that has a body in it. A local bird watcher identifies the body as GG Garcia, a developer known for his unhealthy lifestyle and rule breaking ways. When the man who identified him is attacked Hayley jumps into investigate. She knows GG has quite a few enemies the problem is pairing them down to one sho was willing to kill. Follow along as Hayley brings past secrets to the forefront, will this help her find a killer or make her a target.
July 13, 2022
ARC received for anhonest review.
I think this one is more a case of "it's not you, book - it's me"
It could be be ause it was book 12 in the series, it could be my covid-fogged rain, but I just couldn't really get into this one.
It was good enough that I read to the end, but I didn't really feel anything for any of the characters, at all.
So I won't say anything more than I think this was more the time and circumstances, and I think lots of others will really enjoy it
I think this one is more a case of "it's not you, book - it's me"
It could be be ause it was book 12 in the series, it could be my covid-fogged rain, but I just couldn't really get into this one.
It was good enough that I read to the end, but I didn't really feel anything for any of the characters, at all.
So I won't say anything more than I think this was more the time and circumstances, and I think lots of others will really enjoy it
August 12, 2022
First, the rating I have given is not because A Dish to Die For is a lousy book or there is anything significantly wrong with it. I enjoyed a lot of it and liked many of the characters. But… I have not read any of the other books in this series, and it was hard for me to get a good grip on the characters. I loved the location of Key West; I also liked the birdwatcher, and the dog, Ziggy. However, I wasn’t crazy about Hayley, and I disliked her husband, Nathan. If I could have given it three and a half stars, I would have.
Hayley and a friend take their dogs with them for lunch. As they relax and enjoy the peace and quiet, Ziggy, Nathan’s dog, begins to bark, and she goes hunting for him only to discover a body. The birdwatcher, Davis, recognizes the victim immediately. Once the police show up and she gives her statement, she returns home, only to find that she can’t get the victim off her mind. Before long, she is asking questions with the intent of finding a killer. Her neighbor, Miss Gloria, offers her help, and they begin to put the pieces together between them. Hayley also discovers some of Key West’s history from an old cookbook and writes an article for the magazine she works for. But all of her questions and discoveries only lead to more questions.
The victim is a true reprobate in every sense of the word. He definitely got what was coming to him. The suspects are mainly his family, friends, business associates, and Davis, the birdwatcher. I am surprised that Ziggy wasn’t on the suspect list; everyone else was. The evidence, which there is little of, doesn’t really lead to anyone in particular. I had no idea who the killer was until the end because there was no one left who could have done it. Unfortunately, I found the killer implausible and felt as though the killer was thrown when the author finished writing the story only to realize that she had no killer. I also took issue with the fact that the friend Hayley was with when she found the body is not involved in the book at all after the first few pages. That’s probably not the case, but it is how it felt.
The writing in A Dish to Die For is good, and I am sure for fans of this series, the characters are fun and the story interesting. I disliked Hayley’s husband; I felt he was controlling and unforgiving. The way he treats his father is not the way to win over readers. Even if his father was a terrible parent, as a grown-up, Nathan should be more open to having a relationship with his dad, who is obviously trying hard to become a better person. I like Davis the birdwatcher but felt he could have been described better. I love Miss Gloria and Hayley’s family. Ziggy is a blast. The ending of the book was the most challenging part of the story. I found the unveiling to be a letdown. There were some interesting parts in this book; I love the history of the cookbook as a theme for Hayley’s writing. I liked the close-knit feel of the town and the indication that it is more than a tourist attraction. The story just didn’t click with me very well.
Hayley and a friend take their dogs with them for lunch. As they relax and enjoy the peace and quiet, Ziggy, Nathan’s dog, begins to bark, and she goes hunting for him only to discover a body. The birdwatcher, Davis, recognizes the victim immediately. Once the police show up and she gives her statement, she returns home, only to find that she can’t get the victim off her mind. Before long, she is asking questions with the intent of finding a killer. Her neighbor, Miss Gloria, offers her help, and they begin to put the pieces together between them. Hayley also discovers some of Key West’s history from an old cookbook and writes an article for the magazine she works for. But all of her questions and discoveries only lead to more questions.
The victim is a true reprobate in every sense of the word. He definitely got what was coming to him. The suspects are mainly his family, friends, business associates, and Davis, the birdwatcher. I am surprised that Ziggy wasn’t on the suspect list; everyone else was. The evidence, which there is little of, doesn’t really lead to anyone in particular. I had no idea who the killer was until the end because there was no one left who could have done it. Unfortunately, I found the killer implausible and felt as though the killer was thrown when the author finished writing the story only to realize that she had no killer. I also took issue with the fact that the friend Hayley was with when she found the body is not involved in the book at all after the first few pages. That’s probably not the case, but it is how it felt.
The writing in A Dish to Die For is good, and I am sure for fans of this series, the characters are fun and the story interesting. I disliked Hayley’s husband; I felt he was controlling and unforgiving. The way he treats his father is not the way to win over readers. Even if his father was a terrible parent, as a grown-up, Nathan should be more open to having a relationship with his dad, who is obviously trying hard to become a better person. I like Davis the birdwatcher but felt he could have been described better. I love Miss Gloria and Hayley’s family. Ziggy is a blast. The ending of the book was the most challenging part of the story. I found the unveiling to be a letdown. There were some interesting parts in this book; I love the history of the cookbook as a theme for Hayley’s writing. I liked the close-knit feel of the town and the indication that it is more than a tourist attraction. The story just didn’t click with me very well.
August 30, 2022
Haley takes her dog, Ziggy to the park and he discovers a dead body. Haley is invested in the case so she decides to investigate even though her husband, Nathan wishes she would stay out of it for her safety. I really liked the mystery and the characters. Miss Gloria will always be my favorite and I love how Haley and Nathan are settling in to married life and that we got to meet Nathan's father. I can't wait to read the next one.
June 18, 2022
Hayley Snow is a food critic for Key Zest magazine in Key West. She lives on a houseboat with her policeman husband, next door to her octogenarian best friend, Miss Gloria. For the most part, she loves food, she loves to write about food, and she tries to stay out of the trouble that tends to find her. Take this time, for instance, when she and her canine companion, Ziggy, spend a day with friends only to stumble upon a recently deceased man.
GG Garcia wasn't the most likeable man. He had a magnetism about him (just ask the many women seduced by him), but he wasn't a nice guy. Besides forgetting on a daily basis he was married, he was also a developer that didn't care what it took to make his money. It came as no surprise when he turned up dead. The problem is, with so many possibilities, how do they determine who took him out?
Hayley has a deadline and an intimidating father-in-law to meet, so the last thing she wants to do is get involved with yet another murder investigation, but recent circumstances, and those who encourage her to play amateur sleuth, have other plans.
A Dish to Die For by Lucy Burdette is the twelfth book in the Key West Food Critic Mystery series, but it can easily be read as a standalone. Burdette does a fairly seamless job of bringing readers up to speed on many people, places and plotlines that Hayley has been involved with in the past without making you feel as though you've missed out on anything. It just might, however, succeed in enticing you to go back and start at the beginning.
This is a Cozy Mystery, so don't expect too much by way of thrills and chills. It's extremely tame and has the cozy prerequisites of quirky neighbors, ties to the police, "that would never happen" scenarios that allow the protagonist to actually be involved in the case, and comfortable surroundings. I will add the caveat of you don't want to read this one if you're hungry. There's a lot of talk about food, obviously, and it all sounds pretty amazing.
There are some great recipes included, but better than that are the backstories about them. To top that off is the story of what inspired this book. A vintage cookbook plays a big part, and it's based on one that the author actually did find. She even incorporates sections of it. Some of the characters are also inspired by real life, and several places exist in Key West. This type of information fascinates me, so it was an added bonus.
A Dish to Die For was a quick and easy read. The culprit wasn't horribly difficult to figure out, but that's okay if you're a cozy afficionado. It's more about the setting, the people and the relationships that develop that make them what they are.
I received an ARC of this book and have chosen to write this objective review.
GG Garcia wasn't the most likeable man. He had a magnetism about him (just ask the many women seduced by him), but he wasn't a nice guy. Besides forgetting on a daily basis he was married, he was also a developer that didn't care what it took to make his money. It came as no surprise when he turned up dead. The problem is, with so many possibilities, how do they determine who took him out?
Hayley has a deadline and an intimidating father-in-law to meet, so the last thing she wants to do is get involved with yet another murder investigation, but recent circumstances, and those who encourage her to play amateur sleuth, have other plans.
A Dish to Die For by Lucy Burdette is the twelfth book in the Key West Food Critic Mystery series, but it can easily be read as a standalone. Burdette does a fairly seamless job of bringing readers up to speed on many people, places and plotlines that Hayley has been involved with in the past without making you feel as though you've missed out on anything. It just might, however, succeed in enticing you to go back and start at the beginning.
This is a Cozy Mystery, so don't expect too much by way of thrills and chills. It's extremely tame and has the cozy prerequisites of quirky neighbors, ties to the police, "that would never happen" scenarios that allow the protagonist to actually be involved in the case, and comfortable surroundings. I will add the caveat of you don't want to read this one if you're hungry. There's a lot of talk about food, obviously, and it all sounds pretty amazing.
There are some great recipes included, but better than that are the backstories about them. To top that off is the story of what inspired this book. A vintage cookbook plays a big part, and it's based on one that the author actually did find. She even incorporates sections of it. Some of the characters are also inspired by real life, and several places exist in Key West. This type of information fascinates me, so it was an added bonus.
A Dish to Die For was a quick and easy read. The culprit wasn't horribly difficult to figure out, but that's okay if you're a cozy afficionado. It's more about the setting, the people and the relationships that develop that make them what they are.
I received an ARC of this book and have chosen to write this objective review.
August 6, 2022
Spending time in Key West with Hayley Snow, Miss Gloria and Nathan is always a treat. I can enjoy the sights, sounds, sun and food without the sun screen and the calories. Just sit back and join them as a killer is unmasked. In this, the 12th in this entertaining series, Hayley takes an afternoon break with her friend, Eric, a psychologist, heading to a beach with the dogs and a good lunch. Too bad the refreshing beach time is followed by the discovery of a body in a shallow grave. Hayley's husbands' dog, Ziggy, runs off and is found digging for the bones. Tears are not shed when the dead man turns out to be an unpopular local developer who's projects have threatened the local environment not to mention that he's a womanizer. Hayley is not inclined to get involved until a friend is attacked soon after meeting with her. How are the dead man, the attack and a 1940's cookbook connected? It makes for a very good puzzle to solve. If you are new to the series this entry works fine as a stand alone.
My thanks to the publisher Crooked Lane and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
My thanks to the publisher Crooked Lane and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
January 23, 2022
Hayley Snow is adjusting quite nicely to married life.
It isn't until a relaxing picnic on the beach turns deadly, that Hayley finds herself wrapped up in another murder investigation. Her husband Nathan is trying to be supportive, but the appearance of his father seems to shake him up a bit.
I always enjoy a Hayley Snow mystery and A Dish to Die For will certainly make you hungry for some vintage food.
I'm happy to recommend this book to all mystery livers.
#ADishtoDieFor #NetGalley
It isn't until a relaxing picnic on the beach turns deadly, that Hayley finds herself wrapped up in another murder investigation. Her husband Nathan is trying to be supportive, but the appearance of his father seems to shake him up a bit.
I always enjoy a Hayley Snow mystery and A Dish to Die For will certainly make you hungry for some vintage food.
I'm happy to recommend this book to all mystery livers.
#ADishtoDieFor #NetGalley
April 23, 2022
A Key West Food Critic Mystery
Can we all just appreciate the tropical beauty that is this cover? So peaceful and lush.
But not for Hayley Snow, the food critic for the Key Zest Magazine. Things almost never slow down in the Keys and Hayley’s hot cop husband is as busy as she is. Not to mention that his father is in town and Hayley has yet to meet the imposing man.
When Hayley and a friend take their pups over to Geiger Key for a peaceful lunch and dog run, it should be relaxing enough. And it is. Until Ziggy digs up more than sand on the dunes. Local Davis Jager, an avid and very serious birdwatcher, who is also out on the beach identifies the body as one GG Garcia. Garcia has a lot of enemies. He’s loud and brash and is buying up all the real estate he can get his hands on to create even more tourist destinations. The locals aren’t so happy with that idea.
Of course, Hayley isn’t going to just let a dead body go without an investigation. When she and her trusty sidekick, Miss Gloria pay Davis a visit they find out later he was attacked in the parking lot. So, he isn’t a suspect? Maybe.
They find more mysterious things as they help Hayley’s mother with the funeral reception at the Women’s Club. A very old cookbook and a box of notes about some of the members. What a find! Full of recipes from the original cookbook the women put out in the 1940s. Some of them sounded gross, but some of them weren’t recipes at all, but a diary!
This was a good installment of the series. Hayley and Nathan are getting into a married routine and things are looking up for her at work as well!
And as usual, Ms. Burdette has included all of the delicious recipes!
Netgalley/ August 9th, 2022 by Crooked Lane Books
Can we all just appreciate the tropical beauty that is this cover? So peaceful and lush.
But not for Hayley Snow, the food critic for the Key Zest Magazine. Things almost never slow down in the Keys and Hayley’s hot cop husband is as busy as she is. Not to mention that his father is in town and Hayley has yet to meet the imposing man.
When Hayley and a friend take their pups over to Geiger Key for a peaceful lunch and dog run, it should be relaxing enough. And it is. Until Ziggy digs up more than sand on the dunes. Local Davis Jager, an avid and very serious birdwatcher, who is also out on the beach identifies the body as one GG Garcia. Garcia has a lot of enemies. He’s loud and brash and is buying up all the real estate he can get his hands on to create even more tourist destinations. The locals aren’t so happy with that idea.
Of course, Hayley isn’t going to just let a dead body go without an investigation. When she and her trusty sidekick, Miss Gloria pay Davis a visit they find out later he was attacked in the parking lot. So, he isn’t a suspect? Maybe.
They find more mysterious things as they help Hayley’s mother with the funeral reception at the Women’s Club. A very old cookbook and a box of notes about some of the members. What a find! Full of recipes from the original cookbook the women put out in the 1940s. Some of them sounded gross, but some of them weren’t recipes at all, but a diary!
This was a good installment of the series. Hayley and Nathan are getting into a married routine and things are looking up for her at work as well!
And as usual, Ms. Burdette has included all of the delicious recipes!
Netgalley/ August 9th, 2022 by Crooked Lane Books
June 10, 2022
ᗩ ᗪIՏᕼ TO ᗪIᗴ ᖴOᖇ
ᗷY ᒪᑌᑕY ᗷᑌᖇᗪᗴTTᗴ
ᖇᗴᐯIᗴᗯ
This book is number 12 in her series! A BIG congratulations to the author for having a series continue over 12 books! Anyway, I read the first book not long ago and I loved it. It is a cute cozy mystery set in Key West which isn't far from where I live!! I haven't read books 2-11 yet but I can say that they dont need to be read in order. Winning!!
Hayley is the main character and she is still just as likeable in this book as she was in the first one. AND she includes recipes at the end! Yummy!
Also, she used real names of real police officers of KWPD. How neat is that!?! If she ever needs to talk to someone who works for the sheriffs office I can help with that 😉
I also want to buy this series and have Lucy sign them! Okay, enough gushing 😉
ᖇᗴᗩᗪ TᕼKՏ ᗷOOK Iᖴ:
🥧 you enjoy books that involve food. YUMMY!
🥧 you like Key West
🥧 cozy mysteries are your jam (see what I did there 😁)
🥧 you like stories about a cute girl who happens to be able to solve murders
I'd recommend this book and mark it is as a BUY on the scale of Buy, Bargain, Borrow, Bud (audio) or Bust. (And yes I came up with the scale. I'm oddly proud of it!)
Thank you @netgalley the author & the publisher for a copy of this book for my honest opinion.
ᗷY ᒪᑌᑕY ᗷᑌᖇᗪᗴTTᗴ
ᖇᗴᐯIᗴᗯ
This book is number 12 in her series! A BIG congratulations to the author for having a series continue over 12 books! Anyway, I read the first book not long ago and I loved it. It is a cute cozy mystery set in Key West which isn't far from where I live!! I haven't read books 2-11 yet but I can say that they dont need to be read in order. Winning!!
Hayley is the main character and she is still just as likeable in this book as she was in the first one. AND she includes recipes at the end! Yummy!
Also, she used real names of real police officers of KWPD. How neat is that!?! If she ever needs to talk to someone who works for the sheriffs office I can help with that 😉
I also want to buy this series and have Lucy sign them! Okay, enough gushing 😉
ᖇᗴᗩᗪ TᕼKՏ ᗷOOK Iᖴ:
🥧 you enjoy books that involve food. YUMMY!
🥧 you like Key West
🥧 cozy mysteries are your jam (see what I did there 😁)
🥧 you like stories about a cute girl who happens to be able to solve murders
I'd recommend this book and mark it is as a BUY on the scale of Buy, Bargain, Borrow, Bud (audio) or Bust. (And yes I came up with the scale. I'm oddly proud of it!)
Thank you @netgalley the author & the publisher for a copy of this book for my honest opinion.
May 8, 2022
I loved the setting in the Keys!
I also really enjoyed learning about all the weird Key West dishes like conch meat that are considered traditional to the island now,
While I wish it wasn't yet another sleuth-cop couple, I do like the MC and her hubby.
I thought the mystery was well paced and complex enough to keep the wheels turning.
I also enjoyed who the "culprits" turned out to be and why they did what they did more than usual.
I might have enjoyed the book a little more if I had started at book #1, since there seemed to character developments I lacked a bit of background on, although the author did a pretty good job of filling in most of the blanks. Given how much fun this read was, I will probably eventually go back and read the earlier books in the series as well.
Also, as a waitress, I appreciated the small shoutout to how physically intense the job is. My ankles are still sore as I type this and I'm about to work a double for Mother's Day!
Thanks again to NetGalley and the author for making this free copy available to me
I also really enjoyed learning about all the weird Key West dishes like conch meat that are considered traditional to the island now,
While I wish it wasn't yet another sleuth-cop couple, I do like the MC and her hubby.
I thought the mystery was well paced and complex enough to keep the wheels turning.
I also enjoyed who the "culprits" turned out to be and why they did what they did more than usual.
I might have enjoyed the book a little more if I had started at book #1, since there seemed to character developments I lacked a bit of background on, although the author did a pretty good job of filling in most of the blanks. Given how much fun this read was, I will probably eventually go back and read the earlier books in the series as well.
Also, as a waitress, I appreciated the small shoutout to how physically intense the job is. My ankles are still sore as I type this and I'm about to work a double for Mother's Day!
Thanks again to NetGalley and the author for making this free copy available to me
August 15, 2022
I haven't had the privilege of reading the Key West Food Critic Mystery series by Lucy Burdette from the beginning but that doesn't matter. As soon as you open one of the books in the series, you will get into it immediately ! You will feel like you are living on a houseboat on Houseboat Row next door to Hayley, Nathan, and Miss Gloria.
A Dish to Die For is the twelfth book in the Key West Food Critic Mystery series and Hayley, as always, is in over her head in everything. Her and Nathan are still navigating married life as they recently got married, they are living on their own houseboat on Houseboat Row next door to Hayley's best friend, 83 year old young Missi Gloria. Nathan is a detective on the force and trying, unsuccessfully, to keep Hayley out of his investigations. Hayley is enjoying her job as a food critic writing for a local magazine all about food in Key West.
When readers begin reading A Dish to Die For Hayley and her good friend Eric have taken their dogs to a small beach a little ways away from Key West where their dogs can run off leash and the humans can sit and talk somewhere where it's not so crowded and noisy. Unfortunately Ziggy, Nathan's dog, runs away and won't stop until Hayley investigates....and when she does, shefinds Ziggy digging up a partially buried, dead man,
Even though Hayley has a lot on her plate, she is still drawn to the investigation of the dead man. And when her mom is asked to cater the memorial service for him, Hayley assists her mom and step-dad in the task in hopes of finding out more information on the deceased, GG Garcia.
Even though the murder was not committed in Nathan's jurisdiction, he is asked to help with the investigation as well as his estranged father who is in town for work as well as to visit and meet Hayley. Needless to say there are enough professionals on the job to solve the murder but Hayley has the knack for getting people to talk to her and sometimes tell her deep, dark secrets......
I could read any book in the Key West Food Critic Mystery series and totally enjoy the escape to Key West. I would love to hang around with Hayley and Miss Gloria on either of their houseboats having a glass of wine or cup of coffee. I wouldn't even mind spending time with Hayley's mother and Sam as they prepare for one of their catering jobs. I could read one of these books even without the murders that occur. Even though the murders are always the center point, the books could still be quite entertaining without them. Burdette's choice of Key West, Hayley's job, her mom's occupation, the settings and the food alone with have readers coming back for more.....and the murders and the back stories will have readers asking for more. You will always want more of this series !!!!
August 3, 2022
Hayley Snow, food critic for Key Zest magazine, is having lunch with a friend outside of town. Afterwards, she discovers her husband Nathan’s dog, Ziggy, has disappeared. She follows his barking and finds him digging at a shallow grave with a man’s body in it. Davis Jager, a local birdwatcher, identifies him as GG Garcia, a Key West local and developer. When Davis is attacked in the parking lot of a local restaurant after talking to Hayley and her friend, Miss Gloria, Hayley is slowly but surely drawn into the case. Can she find the truth and the culprit?
This cozy mystery was a good read. I liked Hayley and how she worked with her husband and the police to solve the crime. Miss Gloria was the standout character to me, being the wise and wild older friend. I loved the descriptions of Key West, Florida, and it’s now on my list of places I want to visit. The plot was a dastardly diabolical puzzle, and I was surprised in the end. Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this advanced reader’s copy. This review is my unbiased opinion.
This cozy mystery was a good read. I liked Hayley and how she worked with her husband and the police to solve the crime. Miss Gloria was the standout character to me, being the wise and wild older friend. I loved the descriptions of Key West, Florida, and it’s now on my list of places I want to visit. The plot was a dastardly diabolical puzzle, and I was surprised in the end. Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this advanced reader’s copy. This review is my unbiased opinion.
September 15, 2022
This is an entertaining cozy mystery. It is a good book for readers who love novels with lots of references to food. Since the main character is a food critic, there are plenty of restaurants mentioned and delicious food described. And, thankfully, Burdette has added some yummy recipes for the tantalizing foods, such as banana cream pie.
I liked the setting of Key West. We are immersed in the culture and atmosphere of the island community. The spiritual atmosphere was evidenced by a tarot card reading with a view to aiding in the solving of the mystery. I appreciated the descriptions of places Hayley went, like paddling a kayak around exposed mangrove roots.
Burdette has a good writing style, making this novel an easy and enjoyable one to read. It is part of a long series. While it reads well on its own, it seems more character development may have occurred in earlier novels. Nonetheless, I enjoyed the novel, including the food and the setting and will be looking for the next in the series.
I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.
I liked the setting of Key West. We are immersed in the culture and atmosphere of the island community. The spiritual atmosphere was evidenced by a tarot card reading with a view to aiding in the solving of the mystery. I appreciated the descriptions of places Hayley went, like paddling a kayak around exposed mangrove roots.
Burdette has a good writing style, making this novel an easy and enjoyable one to read. It is part of a long series. While it reads well on its own, it seems more character development may have occurred in earlier novels. Nonetheless, I enjoyed the novel, including the food and the setting and will be looking for the next in the series.
I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.
October 24, 2022
After dealing with her cold mother in law at Christmas, Haley Snow now has to deal with her icy father in law. Nathan's father has come to evaluate the inner workings of the Key Wes Police Department, and of course, Haley comes across a body. Sitting on the beach with her friend Eric, her dog Ziggy uncovers a body under a tree. Reluctantly working with the KWPD and the Sheriff, Haley helps solve the crime with the help of Miss Gloria and of course, has some fabulous food. Her professional life takes a step up as well as she is promoted to managing editor at Key Zest!. Onto number 13!
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