Fat-free and Fatal

Kate Jasper #4

by Jaqueline Girdner

Kate Jasper, Marin County, California's own, organically grown, amateur sleuth returns in this fourth mystery in the series. ("One of the most appealing and believable heroines in the current mystery field."--Phyllis Brown, owner of Grounds for Murder Book Store.) Kate and her new sweetie have finally moved in together in FAT-FREE AND FATAL. But her sweetie's venomous mother has moved in too, and she's working hard at destroying the relationship. Kate signs up for a vegetarian cooking class to get out of the house and out from under the prongs of her almost mother-in-law's tongue. Only it's a case of out-of-the-frying-pan-into-the-fire when the owner of the class's venue, The Good Thyme Cafe, is found dead ... strangled by the electric cord of a SaladShooter. The police suspect Kate's best friend, Barbara. Kate sleuths, fearing that otherwise, her friend's fowl-free goose may be cooked.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Fiction, Mystery Thriller

1 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

aka Claire Daniels

Jaki Girdner lives, works, practices tai chi, and eats her vegetables in Marin County, California, along with her favourite computer peripheral, Famous Spouse Gregory Booi.

Series:
* Kate Jasper

Reviews

[Kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book starts with a prologue:
“She’s gotta go, man,” the first voice said. It was a low, rough voice, hoarse with rage. “You know what she is. You know what she does.”
“There have been too many incidents already,” warned the second, cooler voice. “We might get caught.”
“We gotta waste her,” the first voice insisted. “She’s dead, man. She’s history.” Sentence was pronounced. There was no hope for an appeal.
The eavesdropper shuddered, then turned away.

Hmmmm – well okay then. This is more interesting than it seems and the clues are in the choice of words. But it only made sense afterwards.

This is another throw away detective novel. Sort of. It does have an interesting twist in it which I didn’t see coming. And I read loads of these kinds of books when my head needs emptying.

So it was worth a rainy afternoon. But not really memorable. In fact, I got marginally annoyed with the main character agreeing to do all sorts of stuff she didn’t want to do and then moaned the whole time about living on Tums/Enos. It’s a book, you are not real, you can do anything you want and NEVER have to live with the repercussions.
Rather than empathise with her I got annoyed and wanted her to grow a pair!

Anyway – not worth offering to anyone. I will book exchange this or drop it is a sales bucket for someone else to use up an Sunday afternoon with.

Best line of the book: “People who wear anything less than a size ten aren’t allowed opinions on diets,” I informed her. “They’re lucky they’re allowed to live.”

[S.j. Thompson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fat Free and Fatal. The fourth in the series. I found it at a junk store for a quarter, it had a cute cover. The characters are not terribly interesting, the plot drags along and the ending had an unexpected twist that really didn't help it get any better. I'm not sure why these "cozy mystery" books are so popular. Cute, a fast read, but pretty forgettable.

[Shuuu · Rating 2 out of 5]

I bought this book at a church bizarre base on the description on the back. I thought it might be humorous (just something fun for summer reading) but is wasn’t that good. I also wasn’t aware it was from a series, but you don’t need to read them in order to follow the story which I was thankful for.
Overall I only finished it to see if I guessed the ending correctly.

[Jamie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This 4th book was not as good as the other three. The twist at the end I did not see coming. Taking a cooking class with no cooking didn't make since. Just talking about food and tasting samples of food already prepared.

[JoAnn Plant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vesta's here! Wayne's mother now lives with Wayne and Kate due to overmedication, but she causes trouble for Kate - to the extent that she contacts Kate's ex and spouts rhetoric and lies! Kate finds a dead body and the motive is as unusual as the killer! In the end all is well - maybe!

[Sharon Bezrutczyk · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is part of a series I like very much..

[Kiztine · Rating 5 out of 5]

First book ever read. haha. well, i was serious when i was reading this because of the thrill of the story that gave me the excitement in finishing the book as fast as i could. The end of the story with unexpected killer. great one!

[Dale]

good mystery series with professional chef

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I tried this one out on vacation and really liked it

[Toesnorth's mom]

stupid and boring