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Supper Club Mystery #1
Carbs & Cadavers
James "Professor Puff" Henry may as well have "loser" stamped on his forehead. Divorced, overweight, shy, and living at home, he relies on books and his favorite snack -- cheese puffs -- for sweet relief from his problems. A former English lit professor at William and Mary, he moves back to Quincy's Gap, a small Virginia town in the Shenandoah Valley, to take care of his recently-widowed father. To improve his social life and waistline, he joins a supper club for dieters who lovingly call themselves the "Flab Five." Avoiding carbs is nearly impossible in this deep-fried potato-loving land, so a mysterious death in their small burg provides an effective, if disturbing, distraction. While dodging delectable temptations, Professor Henry and his fellow dieters work together to shed pounds and find the killer who has struck fear in this tight-knit community.
257 pages, Paperback
First published September 8, 2006
316 people are currently reading
3139 people want to read
About the author
J.B. Stanley
8 books180 followersAlso writes under the pseudonyms Ellery Adams and Jennifer Stanley.
J.B. Stanley is the nom de plume of New York Times Bestselling author Ellery Adams. Adams grew up on a beach near the Long Island Sound. Having spent her adult life in a series of landlocked towns, she cherishes her memories of open water, violent storms, and the smell of the sea. Ms. Adams has held many jobs including that of caterer, retail clerk, car salesperson, teacher, tutor, and tech writer, all the while penning poems, children's books, and novels. She now writes full-time from her home in Virginia.
For more killer mysteries, visit www.elleryadamsmysteries.com
J.B. Stanley is the nom de plume of New York Times Bestselling author Ellery Adams. Adams grew up on a beach near the Long Island Sound. Having spent her adult life in a series of landlocked towns, she cherishes her memories of open water, violent storms, and the smell of the sea. Ms. Adams has held many jobs including that of caterer, retail clerk, car salesperson, teacher, tutor, and tech writer, all the while penning poems, children's books, and novels. She now writes full-time from her home in Virginia.
For more killer mysteries, visit www.elleryadamsmysteries.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 407 reviews
November 17, 2023
wow, back it up... first of all, correlation is not causation. and even if it was... at least they died happy! that's saying something!
March 26, 2018
What another fantastic series by Ellery Adams! I absolutely LOVE this story! I requested this novel because I have loved reading the author's other works. All of the stories that I have read by this author were books that involve books and that's an obvious weakness. What can I say? I am #obsessed This one seemed a bit different and not focused on the love of reading as much but I am crazy about the author's work so requested and I am so glad I did because Ellery Adams made another great cozy that is sure to please many!
This story is a great cozy that is filled with characters that you can't help but to love!😍💜 I thought this story wouldn't involve books as much but it still had a little bit of the bibliophile charm to it as well. Also being a plus size woman, I could relate to the main characters and their battles. They had there unique and quirky personalities with backstories that made them relatable and causes you to become highly invested in their stories!
I enjoyed the mystery of this story and was surprised by the outcome. This book took me on such a fun adventure and warmed my heart at the same time causing me to be distraught when I finished it. I wanted to read the second installment immediately but you know how a book reviewer's schedule goes, "so many books, so little time". I can't wait to get a chance to read the second book in this series and highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good cozy!😍
This story is a great cozy that is filled with characters that you can't help but to love!😍💜 I thought this story wouldn't involve books as much but it still had a little bit of the bibliophile charm to it as well. Also being a plus size woman, I could relate to the main characters and their battles. They had there unique and quirky personalities with backstories that made them relatable and causes you to become highly invested in their stories!
I enjoyed the mystery of this story and was surprised by the outcome. This book took me on such a fun adventure and warmed my heart at the same time causing me to be distraught when I finished it. I wanted to read the second installment immediately but you know how a book reviewer's schedule goes, "so many books, so little time". I can't wait to get a chance to read the second book in this series and highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good cozy!😍
February 23, 2018
This is the first book in the Supper Club mystery series. I have read books by Ellery Adams before, so I jumped at the opportunity to read this new series. The premise of the series is novel and amusing. The story revolves around a supper club of dieters called the Flab Five. They are all trying to watch what they eat and whittle their waistline, but they soon find murder on the menu. Divorced professor James Henry finds himself back in Quincy Gap when his mother dies. He returns to help out his dad. The death of his mother has made him look at his life a little closer and he doesn’t like what he sees around his waistline. He has taken a substantial paycut when moving back to the small town, taking a job at the local library. He has no real friends in town. Just as he was beginning to feel a bit down, Lindy comes to the library asking permission to hang a flyer for a Sunday night dinner club for dieters. James decides to give the club a go himself and the Flab Five is born! The characters are very real. They have hopes, aspirations, regrets and flaws. You will find yourself rooting for them. There is friendship, camaraderie and more than a few quandaries in this amusing book.
May 12, 2023
If you keep in mind that this was published in 2006 before most of us heard the term fatphopic. The book is actually a good cozy mystery. It kept me guessing until the last few pages.
April 15, 2020
First in a series about James Henry and his friends from a supper club who turn into amateur sleuths. It's an enjoyable romp but one where if you have read any small town American cosy crime you'll know how this goes.
I was;t so keen on the descriptiveness of the overweight characters. This is not a book for the positive fat movement and I was a little uncomfortable with some of the writing around these characters. Overall not a bad start to a series and if you like cosy crime you'll probably enjoy this one.
I was;t so keen on the descriptiveness of the overweight characters. This is not a book for the positive fat movement and I was a little uncomfortable with some of the writing around these characters. Overall not a bad start to a series and if you like cosy crime you'll probably enjoy this one.
April 30, 2018
In this first book of the series we are introduced to Professor Henry who isn't quite satisfied with his life. Like some people he tends to eat his worries away and looks for happiness in the foods that he eats. He decides that it is time to make some changes in his life and joins a group of dieters who form a supper club to help one another watch their weight. They deem themselves the Fab Five and look forward to helping one another out in their food struggles. When local Brinkley Meyers dies while visiting the local bakery the group wants to help the young lady accused of killing the man. You see Meyers was a local high school football hero that was adored by some and hated by many. Follow along as the gang works their way through facts, clues, and gossip. Will they be able to come up with the answer to who killed Meyers or have they worked themselves into a corner. This a truly a great read filled with realistic characters, a lovely setting, and a fun whodunit mystery. I loved the humor in the characters and appreciated the way the author handled the subject of weight loss.
March 7, 2018
In this first book of the series we are introduced to Professor Henry who isn't quite satisfied with his life. Like some people he tends to eat his worries away and looks for happiness in the foods that he eats. He decides that it is time to make some changes in his life and joins a group of dieters who form a supper club to help one another watch their weight. They deem themselves the Fab Five and look forward to helping one another out in their food struggles. When local Brinkley Meyers dies while visiting the local bakery the group wants to help the young lady accused of killing the man. You see Meyers was a local high school football hero that was adored by some and hated by many. Follow along as the gang works their way through facts, clues, and gossip. Will they be able to come up with the answer to who killed Meyers or have they worked themselves into a corner. This a truly a great read filled with realistic characters, a lovely setting, and a fun whodunit mystery. I loved the humor in the characters and appreciated the way the author handled the subject of weight loss.
June 22, 2018
This book was a lot of fun! I wasn't sure how I'd feel about a cozy with a male as the main character, but I loved it. And since I'm a big girl myself, I could really sympathize with the characters as they struggled with their diets and tried to lose weight. So familiar and relatable.
The mystery itself really had me stumped until the reveal. I thought the method of murder was sort of clever, in it's specifics, and I definitely did not solve it. I'm guessing I was a little slack-jawed around the big revelation.
All in all, I really enjoyed this book! If you've ever struggled with your weight or with a diet, I think you'd especially love it.
*5 Stars
The mystery itself really had me stumped until the reveal. I thought the method of murder was sort of clever, in it's specifics, and I definitely did not solve it. I'm guessing I was a little slack-jawed around the big revelation.
All in all, I really enjoyed this book! If you've ever struggled with your weight or with a diet, I think you'd especially love it.
*5 Stars
July 22, 2019
What an interesting twist to the cozy mystery genre! A group of plus sized folks who become friends as they support each other on their quest to become healthier and it leads to helping solve a mystery! Great characters, the main character is male which is a nice change of pace, that are well fleshed out and brought to life which only enhances the plot line all that much more. The best part is that it appears that this entire series is available via audiobook so I am really looking forward to listening to the entire series!
April 26, 2016
My first cosy mystery! Very feel-good, stress-free mystery lite. The mystery itself is pretty bland and it's more of a sideshow really.
Recipe for Cosy Mystery
Ingredients: An annoying local jock/bully whom you could see from a mile away as the victim. A ragtag bunch of amateur detectives for whom sleuthing came as an accidental activity. The side characters and suspects being everyone else in town, from the gossipy owner of the fave diner to the rich snobs.
Instructions: Find a commonexcuse theme to insert recipes into the story, preferably on foods that relate to the main detective(s)' adventures. Get the local bully murdered and let the annoying deputy sheriff bully his way around suspects who are obviously innocent. Let the amateur sleuths snoop around and stumble upon 'illuminating' clues that will later turn out to be red herrings. Cue homing in on the likeliest suspect and then the reveal, which brings out the real culprit in all their maniacal glory. The accidental heroes will then subdue the killer and put the abrasive deputy sheriff in his place. Conclude with some comic relief moment, everyone is happy.
What I liked was the small-town feel and the familiarity of lovable stereotypes that can only come from such close-knit communities. Even the villain is a caricature and doesn't really matter in the bigger scheme of things.
The frequent mentions of food are in line with the theme of the series and I can relate to their dieting struggles (hello, my fellow pleb girls). Also, even though the Flab Five and all the other characters are, like I mentioned, written into their respective stereotypes, somehow they lulled me into a comfort zone that made for a light, heartwarming read. Cosy is the word indeed.
Recipe for Cosy Mystery
Ingredients: An annoying local jock/bully whom you could see from a mile away as the victim. A ragtag bunch of amateur detectives for whom sleuthing came as an accidental activity. The side characters and suspects being everyone else in town, from the gossipy owner of the fave diner to the rich snobs.
Instructions: Find a common
What I liked was the small-town feel and the familiarity of lovable stereotypes that can only come from such close-knit communities. Even the villain is a caricature and doesn't really matter in the bigger scheme of things.
The frequent mentions of food are in line with the theme of the series and I can relate to their dieting struggles (hello, my fellow pleb girls). Also, even though the Flab Five and all the other characters are, like I mentioned, written into their respective stereotypes, somehow they lulled me into a comfort zone that made for a light, heartwarming read. Cosy is the word indeed.
February 23, 2018
This is the first book in the Supper Club mystery series. I have read books by Ellery Adams before, so I jumped at the opportunity to read this new series. The premise of the series is novel and amusing. The story revolves around a supper club of dieters called the Flab Five. They are all trying to watch what they eat and whittle their waistline, but they soon find murder on the menu. Divorced professor James Henry finds himself back in Quincy Gap when his mother dies. He returns to help out his dad. The death of his mother has made him look at his life a little closer and he doesn’t like what he sees around his waistline. He has taken a substantial paycut when moving back to the small town, taking a job at the local library. He has no real friends in town. Just as he was beginning to feel a bit down, Lindy comes to the library asking permission to hang a flyer for a Sunday night dinner club for dieters. James decides to give the club a go himself and the Flab Five is born! The characters are very real. They have hopes, aspirations, regrets and flaws. You will find yourself rooting for them. There is friendship, camaraderie and more than a few quandaries in this amusing book.
April 3, 2021
I completely forgot I didn't finish this. I put it away one night before bed just before the end (didn't want to miss the good stuff) and then forgot to finish it. Never fear, it's done!
I loved this book! I loved that the main character is a man, and not only that, a very human and realistic man. I don't see that often in cozy mysteries, so I liked the change of pace. It's not hard to like and empathize with James, trying to grieve for his mother and help his elderly father while starting a new job at the library. I also loved how he was drawn in to the Flab Five supper club and the other four members are likeable and easy to relate to. I liked (and related to) Lucy the most because I also have a weakness for frosting. In fact, I have a can of frosting in my kitchen right now for the spice cake I'm making for Easter dinner tomorrow and it's taking all of my willpower not to crack it open and feast. Should've bought 2, I guess. Enough with my Roomba of Thought (as an ADHD'er I don't get the luxury of a train of thought, I've only got a chaotic and wandering Roomba of Thought) anyway, back to the review:
As for the plot, it was a cracker. On the day of the biggest high school football game, Brinkley causes a scene at the diner and is found dead the next day at the bakery. Lucy, who has been trying to work her way into being a police officer, has been shut out from the Old Boys Network working the case. Together with the rest of the Flab Five, they start investigating over diet friendly supper club meals. With no shortage of suspects who would be happy to see Brinkley dead, the story winds its way through the clues and leads before finally leading them to the culprit. I admit, it came as a surprise, and it was only at the end that the motive became clear. And that's why I think I enjoyed the book as much as I did, this wasn't one of my usual cozy mysteries where I pick out who did it pretty early on. I admit, I had no inkling.
Overall, an excellent mystery and I look forward to diving into the other books as soon as I clear my Currently Reading list.
I loved this book! I loved that the main character is a man, and not only that, a very human and realistic man. I don't see that often in cozy mysteries, so I liked the change of pace. It's not hard to like and empathize with James, trying to grieve for his mother and help his elderly father while starting a new job at the library. I also loved how he was drawn in to the Flab Five supper club and the other four members are likeable and easy to relate to. I liked (and related to) Lucy the most because I also have a weakness for frosting. In fact, I have a can of frosting in my kitchen right now for the spice cake I'm making for Easter dinner tomorrow and it's taking all of my willpower not to crack it open and feast. Should've bought 2, I guess. Enough with my Roomba of Thought (as an ADHD'er I don't get the luxury of a train of thought, I've only got a chaotic and wandering Roomba of Thought) anyway, back to the review:
As for the plot, it was a cracker. On the day of the biggest high school football game, Brinkley causes a scene at the diner and is found dead the next day at the bakery. Lucy, who has been trying to work her way into being a police officer, has been shut out from the Old Boys Network working the case. Together with the rest of the Flab Five, they start investigating over diet friendly supper club meals. With no shortage of suspects who would be happy to see Brinkley dead, the story winds its way through the clues and leads before finally leading them to the culprit. I admit, it came as a surprise, and it was only at the end that the motive became clear. And that's why I think I enjoyed the book as much as I did, this wasn't one of my usual cozy mysteries where I pick out who did it pretty early on. I admit, I had no inkling.
Overall, an excellent mystery and I look forward to diving into the other books as soon as I clear my Currently Reading list.
January 4, 2018
In Carbs and Cadavers by Ellery Adams, when James Henry’s mother passes away, the loss forces him to leave his job as an English professor at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA in order to take over the care of his hostile, curmudgeonly father. While settling into Quincy’s Gap in the Shenandoah Valley, James meets Lindy, a high school art teacher wanting permission p to put up flyers at the library, where James has gotten the positron as the new director. These flyers advertise Lindy’s new supper club, a support group for people who want to help each lose weight. Desperately needing to lose at least 50 pounds, James signs up and finds some new friends in the process.
Read the rest of this review and other fun, geeky articles at Fangirl Nation
Read the rest of this review and other fun, geeky articles at Fangirl Nation
October 10, 2023
Rating: 5 Stars!!
Review:
This was my first time reading a Cozy Mystery by Ellery so i wasnt sure what to expect but i have to this was such a good one that i was sad to see it end.
The Characters were fun and enjoyable to read about. James was so funny which he quickly became a favorite of mine.
The Setting was beautifully described which made me feel like i was actually in the book while reading especially when the scenery was described.
Overall a Good Book 1 in this Cozy Mystery Series!! Can't wait to read Book 2 and more by Ellery in the future!!
Review:
This was my first time reading a Cozy Mystery by Ellery so i wasnt sure what to expect but i have to this was such a good one that i was sad to see it end.
The Characters were fun and enjoyable to read about. James was so funny which he quickly became a favorite of mine.
The Setting was beautifully described which made me feel like i was actually in the book while reading especially when the scenery was described.
Overall a Good Book 1 in this Cozy Mystery Series!! Can't wait to read Book 2 and more by Ellery in the future!!
May 23, 2021
It will make you hungry but such a delightful read
February 27, 2018
Since I started reading cozy mysteries regularly a couple of years ago, I have heard a lot about this series, but haven't been able to find the first book. Thankfully, the series is being re-released by Beyond the Page Publishing, who approved my request for an ARC of Carbs & Cadavers from NetGalley.
What I liked most about this book is the high quality of the writing. In general, Ellery Adams is an excellent writer, and this book lives up to the standard I have come to expect after reading the first couple of titles in the Books by the Bay series. The supper club is a believable way to bring a group of diverse people together, and the fact that one of the members is interested in law enforcement makes the group's involvement in solving a crime feel organic rather than gimmicky. The characters also have very distinct and interesting personalities. Even James, the awkward and quiet librarian who is the lead character of the series, is intriguing in his own way. I also love the supporting characters of the Fitzgerald twins who work at the library and James's ornery father, who is in mourning for his deceased wife.
At times, descriptions dwell a bit too much on the appearance of the overweight members of the supper club, talking about bulging fat in a way that feels unnecessary and vaguely uncomfortable. There is also a lot of talk about food - not just what the supper club eats, but also what the characters eat when they cheat on their diet. I usually don't read food-centered mysteries because I find these details boring, but those who enjoy recipes and long descriptions of meals will likely be pleased, since Adams does make each dish sound appetizing.
Overall, I found this to be a solid mystery with a strong plot, engaging characters, and a setting I'd like to visit again. I look forward to reading the other volumes of this series.
What I liked most about this book is the high quality of the writing. In general, Ellery Adams is an excellent writer, and this book lives up to the standard I have come to expect after reading the first couple of titles in the Books by the Bay series. The supper club is a believable way to bring a group of diverse people together, and the fact that one of the members is interested in law enforcement makes the group's involvement in solving a crime feel organic rather than gimmicky. The characters also have very distinct and interesting personalities. Even James, the awkward and quiet librarian who is the lead character of the series, is intriguing in his own way. I also love the supporting characters of the Fitzgerald twins who work at the library and James's ornery father, who is in mourning for his deceased wife.
At times, descriptions dwell a bit too much on the appearance of the overweight members of the supper club, talking about bulging fat in a way that feels unnecessary and vaguely uncomfortable. There is also a lot of talk about food - not just what the supper club eats, but also what the characters eat when they cheat on their diet. I usually don't read food-centered mysteries because I find these details boring, but those who enjoy recipes and long descriptions of meals will likely be pleased, since Adams does make each dish sound appetizing.
Overall, I found this to be a solid mystery with a strong plot, engaging characters, and a setting I'd like to visit again. I look forward to reading the other volumes of this series.
May 31, 2018
Okay book - I will say that the mystery part was very good. I had guessed one person and was COMPLETELY wrong and that is always delightful. The rest....eh. This book was originally written in 2006, when Atkins was huge and that is the diet they follow in this book and I spent most of the book mentally yelling at them for doing this "diet" thing ALL WRONG!!! ALL the diet soda. ALL the sugar-free crap. ALL. THE. BACON. And trust me, I love bacon. But not 9lbs of it for supper because there were no carbs. Sigh. It was really frustrating.
AND. Of course, being a bigger girl, listening to these overweight people talk badly about themselves and struggle while dieting and all the cheating they do [well Y E A H. If you do Atkins/Keto you cheat. You are starving yourself of stuff you need...okay. I am off my soapbox. Sorry.] made me go into a place I struggle to stay out of and that is being the same way about myself instead of liking me for me and just trying to be the healthiest person I can possibly be. As I continue forward with these books, I will make sure to listen to smaller bits to avoid that. And hopefully, the characters will also learn those lessons and there will be less of the negative talk and more positivity.
Overall, not a bad book. Not a great book, but not hideous either.
AND. Of course, being a bigger girl, listening to these overweight people talk badly about themselves and struggle while dieting and all the cheating they do [well Y E A H. If you do Atkins/Keto you cheat. You are starving yourself of stuff you need...okay. I am off my soapbox. Sorry.] made me go into a place I struggle to stay out of and that is being the same way about myself instead of liking me for me and just trying to be the healthiest person I can possibly be. As I continue forward with these books, I will make sure to listen to smaller bits to avoid that. And hopefully, the characters will also learn those lessons and there will be less of the negative talk and more positivity.
Overall, not a bad book. Not a great book, but not hideous either.
January 10, 2019
Cute first mystery in the Supper Club series that features five friends who form a supper club in an effort to lose weight. The protagonist is a male which is unusual for the cozy mystery genre and a nice change of pace. James has moved home to take care of his father and is now the head librarian at the local library. One of the other club members works is an aspiring police officer who currently works with the department which is how the club gets their information when they decided to investigate the suspicious death of a local young man who was generally considered bad news. When suspicion falls on a lovely young woman they all know they compelled to help her. Typical small town activities and characters. The book focuses a lot on the groups dieting efforts in addition to the mystery, maybe a bit even on the dieting front. Oh! For fans of the her Book Retreat series, you'll get a chuckle out of the fact that there are two characters, young men named Francis and Scott Fitzgerald. She must really be a fan of Fitzgerald since she uses that as a name of one of the twin boys in the Book Retreat books.
September 11, 2018
Deliciously mysterious
Such a fun little mystery based on a group of big personalities in a small town. A quick, highly enjoyable read. Sure to make you hungry!
Such a fun little mystery based on a group of big personalities in a small town. A quick, highly enjoyable read. Sure to make you hungry!
June 23, 2018
This book was originally published under the pen name J.B. Stanley in 2008. This is a brand-new, fully revised edition published under the author's real name, Ellery Adams.
In this first book of the series we are introduced to James Henry, The Professor, who isn't satisfied with his life. He is recently divorces and has moved back to his small hometown to take care of his aging father after the death of his mother. He tends to eat his worries away and looks for happiness in the foods that he eats, especially cheese puffs. He is working in the local library and does seem to enjoy that part of his life. When a high school teacher comes in and asks to put up a flier for a "Supper Club" for those who want to lose weight, he decides to join not only to lose some weight, but to meet some people. They call themselves "The Flab Five".
The mystery in this story is who killed local, washed up, football star, Brinkley Meyers. A young woman, who has a strong dislike for Brinkley, is arrested for the crime, but the group is sure she is innocent and set out to prove it. Using their brains, their great questioning techniques and likability, the club works their way through facts, clues, and gossip. Will they be able to come up with the answer to who killed Meyers? There are some side stories going on as well that add interest and flesh out the characters and the town. I enjoyed this story with realistic characters, a friendly setting. This was a fun cozy with a surprising ending that made me smile. Being a full figured gal myself, I appreciated the way the author handled the subject of weight loss, making it a normal part of the story. I am looking forward to reading more in this series. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley.
In this first book of the series we are introduced to James Henry, The Professor, who isn't satisfied with his life. He is recently divorces and has moved back to his small hometown to take care of his aging father after the death of his mother. He tends to eat his worries away and looks for happiness in the foods that he eats, especially cheese puffs. He is working in the local library and does seem to enjoy that part of his life. When a high school teacher comes in and asks to put up a flier for a "Supper Club" for those who want to lose weight, he decides to join not only to lose some weight, but to meet some people. They call themselves "The Flab Five".
The mystery in this story is who killed local, washed up, football star, Brinkley Meyers. A young woman, who has a strong dislike for Brinkley, is arrested for the crime, but the group is sure she is innocent and set out to prove it. Using their brains, their great questioning techniques and likability, the club works their way through facts, clues, and gossip. Will they be able to come up with the answer to who killed Meyers? There are some side stories going on as well that add interest and flesh out the characters and the town. I enjoyed this story with realistic characters, a friendly setting. This was a fun cozy with a surprising ending that made me smile. Being a full figured gal myself, I appreciated the way the author handled the subject of weight loss, making it a normal part of the story. I am looking forward to reading more in this series. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley.
July 7, 2011
I liked this first book in the series. Since most cozy mysteries are written around a woman lead, I thought having an overweight man as the main character would be a nice change. There were a few things that didn't quite work for me though. The biggest was hints of a romance between James and Lucy. I get the impression that James is attracted and repulsed by her at the same time. This doesn't make for a hopeful romance in my eyes. The other 3 members of the "Flab Five" were mostly unremarkable to me. My guess is that the author didn't want to do character overload the first book out in the series. Hopefully each of the Five will get some book time in the future books. I also didn't quite feel the "small town" charm here.
I would like to see this author let loose a little. Who calls people "fatso" in this day and age? Especially when they are holding a gun to someones head? That is really the strongest insult the killer can come up with? I think a different "f" bomb was the more likely realistic response. However, I realize that cozy mysteries are written with a specific formula and we must not offend anyone with colorful language now shall we?
I want to see more of this series, but I'm likely going to skip over books 2-5 for now because I'm not interested in a James & Lucy romance and I have so many other titles to read. I have the 6th installment "Black Beans & Vice" on my Nook and the story line hints to shake things up quite a bit for the "Flab Five"
I would like to see this author let loose a little. Who calls people "fatso" in this day and age? Especially when they are holding a gun to someones head? That is really the strongest insult the killer can come up with? I think a different "f" bomb was the more likely realistic response. However, I realize that cozy mysteries are written with a specific formula and we must not offend anyone with colorful language now shall we?
I want to see more of this series, but I'm likely going to skip over books 2-5 for now because I'm not interested in a James & Lucy romance and I have so many other titles to read. I have the 6th installment "Black Beans & Vice" on my Nook and the story line hints to shake things up quite a bit for the "Flab Five"
January 18, 2018
A new cozy author to me and one that made my smile with pleasure and grin wryly as I need to shift a few (okay a lot!) of pounds myself. A group of 5 semi mis-matched people decide to lose weight by running their own flab fighters, during their meal meet ups they also end up mixed up in murder! I cannot wait (err weight .... sorry) to see how this plays out.
James Henry has come home to look after his father after the sudden death of his mother, he is lucky enough to get a job at the local library (and he has two wonderful assistants in the form of the Fitzgerald twins), about a month after starting at the job an attractive, but overweight, woman asks if she can put up a flier for a weight loss group and seeing as James is overweight he decides to join. There turns out to be 5 of them so they call themselves the Flab Five and settle down to shifting pounds! As well as avoiding temptation though the five of them get dragged into a murder case, the local Football hero is killed and it seems he wasn't as well liked as he would have liked to have thought!
James Henry has come home to look after his father after the sudden death of his mother, he is lucky enough to get a job at the local library (and he has two wonderful assistants in the form of the Fitzgerald twins), about a month after starting at the job an attractive, but overweight, woman asks if she can put up a flier for a weight loss group and seeing as James is overweight he decides to join. There turns out to be 5 of them so they call themselves the Flab Five and settle down to shifting pounds! As well as avoiding temptation though the five of them get dragged into a murder case, the local Football hero is killed and it seems he wasn't as well liked as he would have liked to have thought!
July 8, 2008
If there is such a thing as a light-hearted murder mystery, this is it. I found the main character, James Henry, to be an especially endearing character. I enjoyed the refreshingly honest interaction among the Flab Five. The book was funny and is a great book to pick up for a light summer read. The chapter headings are truly original and made me chuckle.
March 3, 2014
The debut Supper Club finds this new group of friends investigating a murder in their small town. The pacing was uneven, but the characters were absolutely great.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
February 5, 2021
This was a fun read. The mystery was just ok, really just an excuse for character interaction, but it was the characters that made this a very enjoyable read. It was good enough to make me want to read the next in the series to see what happens next in the characters' lives.
December 28, 2022
This book was a hot mess combination of absolute chaos yet warm, fuzzy comfort, kind of like if you have diarrhea but you’re wrapped in a soft, favored childhood blankie. Thrust into my hungry hands by accident (the thrift store was having a 5 Books for $1 Sale and I needed one more book to hit the mark. This happened to be it), I was not prepared for the roller coaster of feelings concerning this book. It was so painful to bear yet so difficult to put down for some eerily enticing reason. Almost like a jackson pollock painting; absolute chaos but I can’t look away?? I hated it and loved it and I don’t know if that says more about the book’s quality or myself as the reader. Anyways, here is a list of questionable material just because.
1. As a kid who grew up in the early 2000s, I’m definitely used to the idea of this Atkins/South Beach diet which personally I believe is terrible for you but that’s just me. However, these poor characters are starving themselves of nutrients and feedings themselves on empty calories and artificial sweeteners. Like, what the heck, Mr James, please eat an egg yolk, put some butter on your bread, eat some meat…ANYTHING. At one point, one of the characters says something along the lines of “I didn’t get my donut for breakfast so now I’m drinking five diet sodas to make up for it”, like pardon me, my good man? I’m not trying to be a nutritionist here, but I literally got hangry and lightheaded watching these characters dwale aimlessly while enduring sugar withdrawals and fatigue from lack of calories. I felt anemic and weightless and just wanted to give poor James some beef jerky or peanut butter or something. Dear friends, if you wish to lose weight, maybe don’t start with cutting calories and adding in artificial sugars and oils. Not gonna be great for your gut or thyroid😬😬
2. Why are fat people all the same in books? Not just this book but seriously🤣so many books and movies make fat people have these miserable lives. The fat person trope is so…trope-y!! The “I’m fat and miserable and my only quality is my humor because I’m insecure and my humor masks my deeply rooted inferiority issues” is a sad, sad storyline, my friends. There’s a point in the book when it’s describing the appearances of one of the fluffier characters and it really made me cringe. The “her rolls of fat bulged from her skin-tight shirt and a big dab of ketchup dribbled down her” sort of descriptions are truly awful😅I’m here to say that while a proper weight is preferable for one’s good health, extra body weight does not automatically make you an undesirable, slobbering orc. And these poor characters all are fat simply because they love junk food too much. As a girl with a little extra fluffage myself, I would like to say that not everyone who is on the puffy side is that way just because they lack the self control in regards to the chicken nuggets and deep fried Oreos. I don’t wanna start a war or anything but some fluffy people just happen to be fluffy and they can have nice happy lives.
3. WHERE ARE THE LAWYERS IN THIS MURDER CASE? Ok I get it. Lucy is a cop but still…that shouldn’t give her the freedom to corner a person of interest while she is off duty and question her. There were probably 623,375 times that I thought to myself “what the heck why are the lawyers not here?” Some of this stuff is ILLEGAL. Like Lucy straight up tells James, A CIVILIAN to look up this stolen drug for her and tells him the whole story. And then Lucy and James are like “yeah let’s just go question these folks ourselves, ain’t no need for a formal interrogation”. I’m not a policeman or detective but I’ve watched my fair share of dateline, y’all. Isn’t that like involving a citizen in government spying? Isn’t that…ILLEGAL? I would just like to know why these characters were so involved in the crime. I mean, I get it. Charmingly chubby people wanna lose weight and solve crimes. It makes for a great read for middle aged women (and me apparently?) but how realistic is this??
4. Gillian
5. The ending?? Like…a field and horses and being shoved off a cliff? What??
6. That kiss scene🤢🤢🤢I mean, I was happy it happened, but the words used to describe it?? I just feel like the words “squeeze”, “fruity”, “protruding”, “rubbed”, and “wiping their wet lips” are not the best words for a kissing scene. GRUNGY. How about words like “caress”, “fragrant”, “gently touched”, etc etc?? Don’t get me wrong, I’m for James and Lucy finding love, but just because they are fluffy people doesn’t mean their kisses have to be disgusting. I’m a fluffy girl and I’ve never experienced such.
Anyways, there is my review. I cannot say whether or not I would recommend Carbs and Cadavers. Upon finishing the book, I felt absolutely nothing in my soul, like an acosmist hoping to find a glimpse of truth but failing miserably. If you want to experience the things aforementioned then sure, read it. If you like being tenderly stroked with Velcro or lying on a bed of sandpaper, this book may be for you. If you like to experience cringe, you will love it. Otherwise, I would say you should employ your reading endeavors elsewhere.
And please. Eat something. Please
1. As a kid who grew up in the early 2000s, I’m definitely used to the idea of this Atkins/South Beach diet which personally I believe is terrible for you but that’s just me. However, these poor characters are starving themselves of nutrients and feedings themselves on empty calories and artificial sweeteners. Like, what the heck, Mr James, please eat an egg yolk, put some butter on your bread, eat some meat…ANYTHING. At one point, one of the characters says something along the lines of “I didn’t get my donut for breakfast so now I’m drinking five diet sodas to make up for it”, like pardon me, my good man? I’m not trying to be a nutritionist here, but I literally got hangry and lightheaded watching these characters dwale aimlessly while enduring sugar withdrawals and fatigue from lack of calories. I felt anemic and weightless and just wanted to give poor James some beef jerky or peanut butter or something. Dear friends, if you wish to lose weight, maybe don’t start with cutting calories and adding in artificial sugars and oils. Not gonna be great for your gut or thyroid😬😬
2. Why are fat people all the same in books? Not just this book but seriously🤣so many books and movies make fat people have these miserable lives. The fat person trope is so…trope-y!! The “I’m fat and miserable and my only quality is my humor because I’m insecure and my humor masks my deeply rooted inferiority issues” is a sad, sad storyline, my friends. There’s a point in the book when it’s describing the appearances of one of the fluffier characters and it really made me cringe. The “her rolls of fat bulged from her skin-tight shirt and a big dab of ketchup dribbled down her” sort of descriptions are truly awful😅I’m here to say that while a proper weight is preferable for one’s good health, extra body weight does not automatically make you an undesirable, slobbering orc. And these poor characters all are fat simply because they love junk food too much. As a girl with a little extra fluffage myself, I would like to say that not everyone who is on the puffy side is that way just because they lack the self control in regards to the chicken nuggets and deep fried Oreos. I don’t wanna start a war or anything but some fluffy people just happen to be fluffy and they can have nice happy lives.
3. WHERE ARE THE LAWYERS IN THIS MURDER CASE? Ok I get it. Lucy is a cop but still…that shouldn’t give her the freedom to corner a person of interest while she is off duty and question her. There were probably 623,375 times that I thought to myself “what the heck why are the lawyers not here?” Some of this stuff is ILLEGAL. Like Lucy straight up tells James, A CIVILIAN to look up this stolen drug for her and tells him the whole story. And then Lucy and James are like “yeah let’s just go question these folks ourselves, ain’t no need for a formal interrogation”. I’m not a policeman or detective but I’ve watched my fair share of dateline, y’all. Isn’t that like involving a citizen in government spying? Isn’t that…ILLEGAL? I would just like to know why these characters were so involved in the crime. I mean, I get it. Charmingly chubby people wanna lose weight and solve crimes. It makes for a great read for middle aged women (and me apparently?) but how realistic is this??
4. Gillian
5. The ending?? Like…a field and horses and being shoved off a cliff? What??
6. That kiss scene🤢🤢🤢I mean, I was happy it happened, but the words used to describe it?? I just feel like the words “squeeze”, “fruity”, “protruding”, “rubbed”, and “wiping their wet lips” are not the best words for a kissing scene. GRUNGY. How about words like “caress”, “fragrant”, “gently touched”, etc etc?? Don’t get me wrong, I’m for James and Lucy finding love, but just because they are fluffy people doesn’t mean their kisses have to be disgusting. I’m a fluffy girl and I’ve never experienced such.
Anyways, there is my review. I cannot say whether or not I would recommend Carbs and Cadavers. Upon finishing the book, I felt absolutely nothing in my soul, like an acosmist hoping to find a glimpse of truth but failing miserably. If you want to experience the things aforementioned then sure, read it. If you like being tenderly stroked with Velcro or lying on a bed of sandpaper, this book may be for you. If you like to experience cringe, you will love it. Otherwise, I would say you should employ your reading endeavors elsewhere.
And please. Eat something. Please
February 26, 2018
Carbs and Cadavers by Ellery Adams is the first book in her Supper Club series. It was a good beginning to this cozy series. Ms. Adams has written a richly detailed story that includes characters that I could relate to on many levels.
James, Lucy, Lindy, Bennet and Gillian all want to lose weight but haven't been successful on their own. They band together to provide recipes, encouragement and support as they strive to achieve their goals. Although strangers they soon begin to bond over future goals and dieting woes. In the process they become involved in a murder investigation. There were plenty of twists and red herrings to keep me confused until the reveal.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Beyond the Page via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own.
James, Lucy, Lindy, Bennet and Gillian all want to lose weight but haven't been successful on their own. They band together to provide recipes, encouragement and support as they strive to achieve their goals. Although strangers they soon begin to bond over future goals and dieting woes. In the process they become involved in a murder investigation. There were plenty of twists and red herrings to keep me confused until the reveal.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Beyond the Page via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own.
January 14, 2024
I think I might have just read the literary version of mukbang food porn.
I feel dirty.
I feel dirty.
December 17, 2021
I have so many thoughts on this one. And I hate that I have so many thoughts on this because it is a COZY MYSTERY!! I read these to not have thoughts. But this one ... just pushed my buttons.
Things I liked: there is protag character but it is really a group of characters.
A new thing: typically for cozy mysteries, the protag is a lady, but in this one it was a guy. That is not necessarily a bad thing, but new to me.
Mixed feelings: This is about an overweight club. it is very fat shamey in parts of the book and that annoys me. I believe that women are fat shamed more often then men are, so in that aspect I think I prefer the male protag....? I dont know. I just kinda hate the fat shaming. However, I like the group and that they are working together on a common goal and using each other for accountability. And they do dinner nights where they potluck a meal.
Other things I liked: they kept going back to the police. They weren't all 'we'll solve this crime' happy. They were more like, 'oh this person needs our help, is there anything we can do to help.' It felt a biiit more realistic.
I liked another bit as well but it would be a spoiler so I'll just say the end bit.
annoyed me: so much focus on looks. I get this is a weight loss club etc but uuugh I just don't wanna think about my own weight issues when reading these type of books.
They mentioned the race of one person in the group. why did they not mention all the races. I hate when white is the default and that just the 'other' races get called out. Nah - if you are gonna tell me one - tell me all of them.
One lady is crushing on the principal. she talks about how if they went on a date, then he may see her fat girl underwear (or something). stop. maybe he likes bigger girls. and if he likes you, then he likes YOU. Make a change for yourself.
Ok. this review is wearing me out. I kinda want to continue to see if these get better and/or how they take this plot... we'll see
Things I liked: there is protag character but it is really a group of characters.
A new thing: typically for cozy mysteries, the protag is a lady, but in this one it was a guy. That is not necessarily a bad thing, but new to me.
Mixed feelings: This is about an overweight club. it is very fat shamey in parts of the book and that annoys me. I believe that women are fat shamed more often then men are, so in that aspect I think I prefer the male protag....? I dont know. I just kinda hate the fat shaming. However, I like the group and that they are working together on a common goal and using each other for accountability. And they do dinner nights where they potluck a meal.
Other things I liked: they kept going back to the police. They weren't all 'we'll solve this crime' happy. They were more like, 'oh this person needs our help, is there anything we can do to help.' It felt a biiit more realistic.
I liked another bit as well but it would be a spoiler so I'll just say the end bit.
annoyed me: so much focus on looks. I get this is a weight loss club etc but uuugh I just don't wanna think about my own weight issues when reading these type of books.
They mentioned the race of one person in the group. why did they not mention all the races. I hate when white is the default and that just the 'other' races get called out. Nah - if you are gonna tell me one - tell me all of them.
One lady is crushing on the principal. she talks about how if they went on a date, then he may see her fat girl underwear (or something). stop. maybe he likes bigger girls. and if he likes you, then he likes YOU. Make a change for yourself.
Ok. this review is wearing me out. I kinda want to continue to see if these get better and/or how they take this plot... we'll see
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