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A Gourmet Girl Mystery #3
Turn Up the Heat
The Gourmet Girl returns to solve the murder of one bad egg.
Chloe Carter has a lot on her plate-exams for grad school are coming up, and her chef boyfriend needs her support as his fledgling trendy restaurant comes into its own. The staff of Simmer gets along like petits pois in a pod, everyone pulling pranks on one another now and then. Everyone, that is, except for Leandra, a waitress who treats the busboys like chopped liver-and can never take a joke. One morning, Leandra's dead body is found in a fish truck. So people start to wonder: was this just a prank gone awry? Or did somebody actually want her to sleep with the fishes?
Chloe Carter has a lot on her plate-exams for grad school are coming up, and her chef boyfriend needs her support as his fledgling trendy restaurant comes into its own. The staff of Simmer gets along like petits pois in a pod, everyone pulling pranks on one another now and then. Everyone, that is, except for Leandra, a waitress who treats the busboys like chopped liver-and can never take a joke. One morning, Leandra's dead body is found in a fish truck. So people start to wonder: was this just a prank gone awry? Or did somebody actually want her to sleep with the fishes?
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 4, 2008
16 people are currently reading
479 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Conant-Park
7 books43 followersNOTE: writes YA novels under Jessica Park.
Jessica Conant-Park graduated from Macalester College and has a master of Social Work degree from Boston College. She is married to Chef William Park. Steamed is the first collaboration in her new series with her mother, mystery author Susan Conant.
Jessica Conant-Park graduated from Macalester College and has a master of Social Work degree from Boston College. She is married to Chef William Park. Steamed is the first collaboration in her new series with her mother, mystery author Susan Conant.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
May 3, 2020
I don't think there was even one character here that I liked. There was very little time devoted to trying to solve the murder, as amateur detectives usually do in cozies. Chloe, a Social Work student, studying for her finals, spends most of the time describing her friends, who are gorgeous (the women) or tall, sexy, and handsome ( the men). Much talk about the restaurant business, and anecdotes about things that have gone wrong by the restaurant workers. Maybe just to turn a minor story into a novel.
I won't be reading more in this series.
I won't be reading more in this series.
June 16, 2017
The writing drive me nuts. In places it was overtly simple. I also hated Chloe. Life was so simple for her except for trying to fit into the atmosphere on the street where the Simmer restaurant was situated. She tried to be Miss Perfect and it drove me to not like her. The talk of her social work was completely over amped as well.
February 4, 2011
Not enough mystery -- clues, suspects, motivation, anything. It's important to include character development and relationship to make the crime-solving relevant, but this is just a bunch of boring characters being boring together, barely pausing for mystery-solving.
March 25, 2015
Just a story. A story of a girl with a chef as her boyfriend, of her pregnant best friend, and his boyfriend's restaurant. These were the main focus of the book and it felt like the murder was just thrown there for the sake of categorizing it as "Mystery".
The only thing that interest me and kept me reading is the kitchen. It felt like I could relate with Josh and the other chefs. =w= (kitchen work. Not the steal and sell part)
I would probably give it more stars if it did not label itself as mystery and just stick its plot to good kitchen-themed stories.
The only thing that interest me and kept me reading is the kitchen. It felt like I could relate with Josh and the other chefs. =w= (kitchen work. Not the steal and sell part)
I would probably give it more stars if it did not label itself as mystery and just stick its plot to good kitchen-themed stories.
May 15, 2014
This is actually the third book in the A Gourmet Girl Mystery series. There is no indication of this on the cover of the book. Thankfully it is a stand alone story and the author does not allude to any previous stories in this one. [Why is so hard to put the number on the spine or cover somewhere? That used to be standard practice...why not continue that?]
A fun read. This is a "cozy mystery" so you can have peace of mind knowing that there will not be a lot of gore or intense suspense.
The story is told by Chloe, the main character. Here is a case when it is okay for the narrator to refer to another character by their formal name and their nickname because the narrator is the best friend and immersed in the story. Since the story is told by one character and how she is experiencing everything we get a kind of stream of consciousness flow. Chloe is worried about her friends, her boyfriend, her finals, favors asked of her, sub-cultural norms, and other things all while trying to figure out who murdered Leandra. It's an interesting way to write it.
The reader gets a look at the life of a blossoming chef and his staff at a new restaurant through the eyes of his girlfriend who is not in the restaurant industry in any capacity other than patron.
One of the other reasons this is a really good read is due to the author writing what she knows. Jessica has a degree in social work and is married to a chef.
Great things about this mystery:
1. The body didn't show up until around chapter 3.
2. It was not obvious who was going to be murdered (unless you read the back cover).
3. Only one in the group of friends was interested in finding out who the murderer was.
4. Chloe worked by herself the whole time without getting any evidence or assistance from the police. Nor did she get in the way of the police investigation.
5. Interesting red herring clues.
6. Recipes in the back. (Unfortunately, I won't make any of these. While I love seafood, my husband doesn't.)
I would recommend this series to those who enjoy a good cozy mystery.
A fun read. This is a "cozy mystery" so you can have peace of mind knowing that there will not be a lot of gore or intense suspense.
The story is told by Chloe, the main character. Here is a case when it is okay for the narrator to refer to another character by their formal name and their nickname because the narrator is the best friend and immersed in the story. Since the story is told by one character and how she is experiencing everything we get a kind of stream of consciousness flow. Chloe is worried about her friends, her boyfriend, her finals, favors asked of her, sub-cultural norms, and other things all while trying to figure out who murdered Leandra. It's an interesting way to write it.
The reader gets a look at the life of a blossoming chef and his staff at a new restaurant through the eyes of his girlfriend who is not in the restaurant industry in any capacity other than patron.
One of the other reasons this is a really good read is due to the author writing what she knows. Jessica has a degree in social work and is married to a chef.
Great things about this mystery:
1. The body didn't show up until around chapter 3.
2. It was not obvious who was going to be murdered (unless you read the back cover).
3. Only one in the group of friends was interested in finding out who the murderer was.
4. Chloe worked by herself the whole time without getting any evidence or assistance from the police. Nor did she get in the way of the police investigation.
5. Interesting red herring clues.
6. Recipes in the back. (Unfortunately, I won't make any of these. While I love seafood, my husband doesn't.)
I would recommend this series to those who enjoy a good cozy mystery.
August 27, 2024
The murder in this book is almost a sidebar. Actually, the murder is finally solved because a second murder is attempted. Otherwise, the characters are involved in a restaurant setting and some of it is very funny. The main character actually studies Social work, which I have an interest in, and so that part did interest me. However, much of the conversation among the characters is somewhat like a soap opera.
July 6, 2017
Lots of twists and turns in the third installment of the series. Backstabing, lying, secrets, weddings, murder, and kidnapping. There was a little bit of everything in this story. So far this is my favorite read. Recipes included. The sneak peak into book four really has me wanting to read it.
July 2, 2017
Breezed through this in a few hours. Fun read, hard to put down. Loved that Adrianna and Owen got a little more depth. Good mystery!
August 12, 2019
Twenty-five-year-old social work grad student, Chloe Carter, is at her chef boyfriend's Boston restaurant, Simmer, when she discovers a body in the back of her friend's fish truck, parked behind the restaurant. Chloe is sure her friend isn't a murderer, but what about everyone else who works at Simmer? Everyone there seems to have nothing good to say about the unfortunate victim, and nerves are on edge as all of the employees, including Chloe's boyfriend, are questioned by the police.
August 9, 2025
Okay book. Not their finest. Lot of twists and turns. Characters are unusually annoying. Storyline is good but the plot isn't very good. The reason for murder is sort of out there. Some very good humor, especially when it comes time for speeches. Recommend.
September 15, 2018
A fun mystery based around an upscaled restaurant and a touch of romance with a splash of murder and intrigue thrown in for good measure....
September 16, 2018
Just okay.
December 5, 2019
Written by the 2 coolest authors in the world. I love that they share information in the story, such as social work stuff which is very interesting and of course, wicked recipes!
April 15, 2021
Enjoyed the book up to the last chapter. The reason behind the murder was a little ridiculous and lame.
May 6, 2022
Love the characters. Love the series.
November 17, 2023
A library find. November 2023.
Flat. Did not draw me in.
To many unnecessary cuss words.
Flat. Did not draw me in.
To many unnecessary cuss words.
April 7, 2024
Enjoy the characters and appreciate the story development over the series
April 9, 2011
Turn Up the Heat is the 3rd adventure in the savory Gourmet Girl culinary mystery series by noted mother-daughter scribes, Jessica Conant-Park & Susan Conant.
Turn Up the Heat shines a light on the restaurant industry & what goes on behind the scenes in our neighborhood kitchens by showcasing the lush, elegant, Simmer.
Jessica & Susan do a steller job sketching restaurant life & this is the best installment yet.
Turn Up the Heat is on fire w/ juicy tidbits on what makes or breaks a restaurant. Yummy goodness.
The whimsical cast enriches the series & are in no way padding for Chloe.
Appaulse to the talented duo for illustrating just how essential the characters are to making the Gourmet Girl series meld.
Chloe is an engaging, fiery, irresistible & fun character. She is definitely one of my favorites.
Now as much as I adore Chloe, I also love reading about the other quirky players.
Adrianna is a sheer delight. I'd love to spend the day just hanging out w/ her. I love the warm bond Chloe & Adrianna share ~ Lucy & Ethel comes to mind, as does Grace & Karen. I look forward to an even bigger role as the series progresses because she is just too much fun.
Owen. Owen. Yes, he is definitely one capricious spirit. I must say, he keeps me on my toes.
Psst! Love the name "Daily Catch", guys.
I enjoy the vibrant atmosphere the Gourmet Girl series has going on. I always feel like I'm on vacation visiting friends in trendy Beantown.
Turn Up the Heat is expertly plotted & brimming w/ red herrings. Love it! I just love a good 'ole fashioned whodunit where everyone is a suspect & you haven't got a clue. Kudos, ladies for this absorbing tale.
Turn Up the Heat is wickedly ambrosial, you will not be disappointed.
Turn Up the Heat shines a light on the restaurant industry & what goes on behind the scenes in our neighborhood kitchens by showcasing the lush, elegant, Simmer.
Jessica & Susan do a steller job sketching restaurant life & this is the best installment yet.
Turn Up the Heat is on fire w/ juicy tidbits on what makes or breaks a restaurant. Yummy goodness.
The whimsical cast enriches the series & are in no way padding for Chloe.
Appaulse to the talented duo for illustrating just how essential the characters are to making the Gourmet Girl series meld.
Chloe is an engaging, fiery, irresistible & fun character. She is definitely one of my favorites.
Now as much as I adore Chloe, I also love reading about the other quirky players.
Adrianna is a sheer delight. I'd love to spend the day just hanging out w/ her. I love the warm bond Chloe & Adrianna share ~ Lucy & Ethel comes to mind, as does Grace & Karen. I look forward to an even bigger role as the series progresses because she is just too much fun.
Owen. Owen. Yes, he is definitely one capricious spirit. I must say, he keeps me on my toes.
Psst! Love the name "Daily Catch", guys.
I enjoy the vibrant atmosphere the Gourmet Girl series has going on. I always feel like I'm on vacation visiting friends in trendy Beantown.
Turn Up the Heat is expertly plotted & brimming w/ red herrings. Love it! I just love a good 'ole fashioned whodunit where everyone is a suspect & you haven't got a clue. Kudos, ladies for this absorbing tale.
Turn Up the Heat is wickedly ambrosial, you will not be disappointed.
May 9, 2015
It’s sometimes the case with series mysteries that things start to get stale and less interesting by book three. Not so with this Boston-based culinary mystery series crafted by a mother-and-daughter team.
The characters you know and love are back in this third book, and I didn’t see the solution to the mystery before it was appropriate to do so.
It’s spring at last in Boston! Chloe Carter has it made in so many ways. She’s days away from graduation, and her romance with Executive Chef Josh at Simmer, a relatively new restaurant in the city, is going nicely. Eager to celebrate spring, Chloe heads for the restaurant one evening to enjoy food on the patio and to at least catch a glimpse of Josh.
The restaurant is an interesting amalgam of talent and ego. Mostly, that’s not a problem, but sometimes, it can be deadly. When you think of ego, you think of Leandra, a Simmer waitress who may treat the customers well, but who burns through any hope of friendships among the staff pretty quickly.
While dining at the restaurant that fateful evening, Chloe sees Leandra intensely arguing with another member of the staff. She thinks little of the argument at the time, focusing instead on agreeing to help her pregnant best friend’s fiancé the following morning. As the day dawns, Chloe’s friend’s fiancé, Owen, proudly shows her his refrigerated truck which he has purchased to make deliveries of fresh fish to Boston’s top restaurants. As they open the refrigeration unit, noticing the awful smell, they find inside the body of Leandra. Now it’s up to Chloe to figure out how to clear her friend’s fiancé and help ensure the success of Simmer at the same time.
The characters you know and love are back in this third book, and I didn’t see the solution to the mystery before it was appropriate to do so.
It’s spring at last in Boston! Chloe Carter has it made in so many ways. She’s days away from graduation, and her romance with Executive Chef Josh at Simmer, a relatively new restaurant in the city, is going nicely. Eager to celebrate spring, Chloe heads for the restaurant one evening to enjoy food on the patio and to at least catch a glimpse of Josh.
The restaurant is an interesting amalgam of talent and ego. Mostly, that’s not a problem, but sometimes, it can be deadly. When you think of ego, you think of Leandra, a Simmer waitress who may treat the customers well, but who burns through any hope of friendships among the staff pretty quickly.
While dining at the restaurant that fateful evening, Chloe sees Leandra intensely arguing with another member of the staff. She thinks little of the argument at the time, focusing instead on agreeing to help her pregnant best friend’s fiancé the following morning. As the day dawns, Chloe’s friend’s fiancé, Owen, proudly shows her his refrigerated truck which he has purchased to make deliveries of fresh fish to Boston’s top restaurants. As they open the refrigeration unit, noticing the awful smell, they find inside the body of Leandra. Now it’s up to Chloe to figure out how to clear her friend’s fiancé and help ensure the success of Simmer at the same time.
February 28, 2012
In this third installment of the Gourmet Girl series, Chloe is coming up on exams in her master's program in social work and is also stressed about how busy her boyfriend Josh has been at Simmer, where he is head chef. Her best friend is very hormonal from her pregnancy and planned marriage to Owen, who has given up his wayward ways and now has a "straight" job as a driver/account manager for a seafood distributor. When a waitress at Simmer ends up dead in the back of Owen's refrigerated truck, Chloe feels the need to clear Owen. The suspects are many and varied as the waitress, Leandra was disliked by most. Too make things even more complicated, the owner of Simmer who was involved with Leandra asks Chloe to make a memory book about Leandra, which is almost impossible to do, given her mean nature. Throw in some stolen property, a reputation for pranks among the staff, and possible financial issues at Simmer, and you have a recipe for a murder mystery for Chloe to figure out. Included at the end of the book are several recipes mentioned throughout the story. This was a lighthearted romp, with a fair amount of humor.
August 28, 2008
Book 3 in A Gourmet Girl Mystery.
Chloe and Josh are still going strong, even though they don't get to spend much alone time together. Simmer, the restaurant where Josh is a chef at, keeps him busy working long, hard hours. They just opened a new patio area and are really starting to make a name for themselves. Especially when Leandra, on of Simmer's waitresses with an attitude, is found dead in the back of the fish suppliers truck on morning. Chloe finds herself with quite a full plate as she tracks down the killer, studies for grad school exams, comforts her pregnant best friend, and finds out about stealing occurring in the restaurant. It was a very cute, fun book; perfect for a quick summer read. I was a little disappointed in the ending. It just seemed to wrap up rather quickly, but I still enjoyed it and will be looking forward to the next book.
Chloe and Josh are still going strong, even though they don't get to spend much alone time together. Simmer, the restaurant where Josh is a chef at, keeps him busy working long, hard hours. They just opened a new patio area and are really starting to make a name for themselves. Especially when Leandra, on of Simmer's waitresses with an attitude, is found dead in the back of the fish suppliers truck on morning. Chloe finds herself with quite a full plate as she tracks down the killer, studies for grad school exams, comforts her pregnant best friend, and finds out about stealing occurring in the restaurant. It was a very cute, fun book; perfect for a quick summer read. I was a little disappointed in the ending. It just seemed to wrap up rather quickly, but I still enjoyed it and will be looking forward to the next book.
March 10, 2008
03/09/08
TITLE/AUTHOR: TURN UP THE HEAT by Jessican Conant-Park & Susan Conant
RATING: 4/B
GENRE/PUB DATE/# OF PGS: Mystery/2008/250 pgs
SERIES/STAND ALONE: #3 in Gourmet Girl series
TIME/PLACE: Present/Boston
CHARACTERS: Chloe Carter/grad student Josh Driscoll/Chloe's boyfriend, chef at trendy new restaurnat Simmer
FIRST LINES: Early May in Boston. There's nothing else like it.
COMMENTS: library book. Light, fun, entertaining. An interesting look into the restaurant biz, a little shocked at the amount of stealing that is considered not only acceptable but just part of working. A server from Simmer, Leandra, is found dead outside the restaurant by Chloe. Leandra was not well liked and a bit of a brown noser w/ the owner but doesn't appear that anyone at Simmer would go as far as killing her or would they.
TITLE/AUTHOR: TURN UP THE HEAT by Jessican Conant-Park & Susan Conant
RATING: 4/B
GENRE/PUB DATE/# OF PGS: Mystery/2008/250 pgs
SERIES/STAND ALONE: #3 in Gourmet Girl series
TIME/PLACE: Present/Boston
CHARACTERS: Chloe Carter/grad student Josh Driscoll/Chloe's boyfriend, chef at trendy new restaurnat Simmer
FIRST LINES: Early May in Boston. There's nothing else like it.
COMMENTS: library book. Light, fun, entertaining. An interesting look into the restaurant biz, a little shocked at the amount of stealing that is considered not only acceptable but just part of working. A server from Simmer, Leandra, is found dead outside the restaurant by Chloe. Leandra was not well liked and a bit of a brown noser w/ the owner but doesn't appear that anyone at Simmer would go as far as killing her or would they.
November 8, 2012
Reviewed by Jennifer Rummel for TeensReadToo.com
Chloe still barely sees her boyfriend, Josh, whose job as a chef keeps him extremely busy. Sometimes the only way to see him is to eat at his restaurant, Simmer.
After eating dinner there one night with a group of friends, Owen's forced to leave his ride parked in the alley behind the restaurant. The next morning, Chloe and Owen return to fetch his truck, but, much to their dismay, they discover the body of their waitress, Leandra, in the back - murdered.
Despite the fact that Chloe's in the middle of exams and Owen's girlfriend is pregnant, Chloe can't help but attempt to solve the murder herself. Can she juggle everything in her life, or will something blow up in her face?
This mother-daughter author team serves up another tasty tale in their third GOURMET GIRL mystery!
Chloe still barely sees her boyfriend, Josh, whose job as a chef keeps him extremely busy. Sometimes the only way to see him is to eat at his restaurant, Simmer.
After eating dinner there one night with a group of friends, Owen's forced to leave his ride parked in the alley behind the restaurant. The next morning, Chloe and Owen return to fetch his truck, but, much to their dismay, they discover the body of their waitress, Leandra, in the back - murdered.
Despite the fact that Chloe's in the middle of exams and Owen's girlfriend is pregnant, Chloe can't help but attempt to solve the murder herself. Can she juggle everything in her life, or will something blow up in her face?
This mother-daughter author team serves up another tasty tale in their third GOURMET GIRL mystery!
May 11, 2010
I like this series but this third book didn't do much for me. It didn't describe the life of restaurant chefs and cooking enough, the motivation for the murder seemed weak, there wasn't much suspense or tension or even very good logic in figuring out the murderer, the character development between the main character and her boyfriend was anemic, it left a lot of threads hanging (for the next book?), and I just must have been in a bad mood--the writing seemed weak compared to the book I just read and, in fact, compared to the first books in the series. But I'll read the next one, just to see if maybe it will be better.
June 9, 2014
I enjoyed this silly witty mystery about the Boston restaurant scene. In this third book of culinary capers, Chloe's boyfriend Josh is head chef at a new Newbery Street restaurant, but all isn't perfect. Things are disappearing left and right and when one of the waitresses winds up dead in the back of a fish truck, everyone is a suspect. It is clever and fun and warm, but I agree with some other reviewers that this is supposed to be a mystery series, and there was not a lot of sleuthing going on. Even so, it was a fun, quick read.
September 15, 2015
Chloe Carter, a doctoral student in social work with a boyfriend who is the head chef at a new Boston area restaurant, doesn't need anything else on her plate; but she gets it anyway, a murder to solve. One of the waitresses where her boyfriend is the chef is murdered and left in her best friend's fiance's fish delivery truck. Of course Chloe has to try to solve the murder because the police think the fiance is the murderer, and her best friend begs Chloe to clear his name. Chloe gets in a lot deeper than she intends to, but does find the murderer, after he finds her.
March 4, 2009
Cute new series by mother and daughter Jessica Conant-Park and Susan Conant of dog and ct lover fame. Billed as a Gourmet Girl Mystery (the daughter is married to a chef) this story centers around the boyfriend chef's restaurant and the nasty server who gets strangled by an apron tie early on. If you love delectable food descriptions and recipes that sound wonderful while promising a lot of work, this is a good beach, bus pass the time read.
February 11, 2011
I liked the characters and storyline of this book. When a waitress is found dead in the back of a delivery truck it seems everyone who works at the restaurant are suspects. We see some of what happens with the cooks and wait staff getting everything ready for the day. Also there are some great recipes at the end of the book. What I didn't care for is the fact that everyone thinks its ok to steal from the restaurant.
FTC disclosure: I bought my copy of this book.
FTC disclosure: I bought my copy of this book.
February 17, 2009
This is the third of a series of very fun books. They are perfect for summer beach reads, for winter ski chalet reads, for anytime you want to read something that will a) keep your attention; b) be fun; c) is well-written and d) surprises you with the ending. These are not the sort of mysteries where you will easily guess "whodunit."
April 16, 2014
I picked this book up as a remainder from the dollar store and I can see why. I couldn't get past the first chapter or so, because what sounded like a promising synopsis began with stereotypical characters and pure drivel. My time is too valuable to waste on bad writing. Thank the gods for paperback swap!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews