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Whipped and Sipped #3
Charred
“Five stars for this wonderful story!” — Sal, Bound 4Escape
“I can’t remember the last time I read a book that I enjoyed this much!” — My Tangled Skeins Book Reviews
“This is a strong showing from Jessica Stilling and one that I will be thinking about for a long time to come.” — Bookgirl86, Goodreads
“Five stars for this wonderful story!” – Sally S, Goodreads
“it was an absolute treat!” – Gracie, Goodreads
“I give ‘Between Before and After’ 4.5 stars.” — Mark, Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus More
“This is one heck of a novel!” — Sal, Bound4Escape
“This is definitely one to be read, no matter your normal fare. You won’t regret it! I could not put it down!” — Nora, Storeybook Reviews
“a gem of a novel” — Rose Auburn, Rose Auburn Reviews
“This novel is a killer joy ride...” — Laura, Celtic Lady’s Reviews
Indie movie director Sebastian Foster has found his niche making movies based on the award-winning novels written by his estranged mother. However his latest film, based loosely on the tragic death of his sister as a child, opens up old wounds best left under bandages. Told in two concurrent timelines, now and when Sebastian was a teen, some twenty years ago in the mid-1990s, this story of learning unknown truths unwinds in streets of Paris, where Sebastian lived as a teen and where he has returned to to make his picture.
About the
Jessica Stilling has written three works of literary fiction, Betwixt and Between, The Beekeeper's Daughter, and The Weary God of Ancient Travelers. She also wrote poetry and short fiction for various literary journals. Her articles have appeared in Ms. Magazine, Bust Magazine and she writes extensively for The Writer Magazine. She has taught Creative Writing in both high school and university. She also publishes young adult fantasy under the pen name JM Stephen. Jessica loves Virginia Woolf, very long walks, and currently lives in southern Vermont where she writes for the very local newspaper, The Deerfield Valley News.
“I can’t remember the last time I read a book that I enjoyed this much!” — My Tangled Skeins Book Reviews
“This is a strong showing from Jessica Stilling and one that I will be thinking about for a long time to come.” — Bookgirl86, Goodreads
“Five stars for this wonderful story!” – Sally S, Goodreads
“it was an absolute treat!” – Gracie, Goodreads
“I give ‘Between Before and After’ 4.5 stars.” — Mark, Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus More
“This is one heck of a novel!” — Sal, Bound4Escape
“This is definitely one to be read, no matter your normal fare. You won’t regret it! I could not put it down!” — Nora, Storeybook Reviews
“a gem of a novel” — Rose Auburn, Rose Auburn Reviews
“This novel is a killer joy ride...” — Laura, Celtic Lady’s Reviews
Indie movie director Sebastian Foster has found his niche making movies based on the award-winning novels written by his estranged mother. However his latest film, based loosely on the tragic death of his sister as a child, opens up old wounds best left under bandages. Told in two concurrent timelines, now and when Sebastian was a teen, some twenty years ago in the mid-1990s, this story of learning unknown truths unwinds in streets of Paris, where Sebastian lived as a teen and where he has returned to to make his picture.
About the
Jessica Stilling has written three works of literary fiction, Betwixt and Between, The Beekeeper's Daughter, and The Weary God of Ancient Travelers. She also wrote poetry and short fiction for various literary journals. Her articles have appeared in Ms. Magazine, Bust Magazine and she writes extensively for The Writer Magazine. She has taught Creative Writing in both high school and university. She also publishes young adult fantasy under the pen name JM Stephen. Jessica loves Virginia Woolf, very long walks, and currently lives in southern Vermont where she writes for the very local newspaper, The Deerfield Valley News.
- GenresMysteryCozy Mystery
315 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 21, 2023
6 people are currently reading
47 people want to read
About the author
G.P. Gottlieb
4 books72 followersG.P. Gottlieb (https://gpgottlieb.com) is the author of Battered, Smothered, and Charred, the first three Whipped & Sipped Mysteries now being reissued by Anam Cara Press (with sexy new covers)! Please don't buy the old versions - the evil successor of my first publisher has stolen every penny since 2023! Hm. An idea for a new mystery....
Follow gpgottlieb.com to see her essays, over 250 podcast author interviews, book reviews, book updates, and recipes. When not reading or writing, she enjoys feeding her kids and grandbabies, walking, baking, attending concerts and plays, and traveling with her partner of 32 years.
Follow gpgottlieb.com to see her essays, over 250 podcast author interviews, book reviews, book updates, and recipes. When not reading or writing, she enjoys feeding her kids and grandbabies, walking, baking, attending concerts and plays, and traveling with her partner of 32 years.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
February 2, 2023
I always enjoy going back to Chicago and the Whipped and Sipped Cafe. While not a vegan, I can appreciate all of the dishes that are created here by the talented pastry chef Ruth, who is also Alene's best friend.
The book is set at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, so I'm sure you can imagine what that has done for Alene's business and the mindset of everyone. The cafe is not bustling with customers. It is takeout only from online orders. Alene's children are restless, and Blanca, who watches the children and takes care of Cal, caught Covid and was in the hospital for a short time. The book brings back the memory of what it was like and the regulations from the cities and government.
The mystery to be solved is who is burning buildings under construction. To top it off, a body was found in the rubble. Who is this person, and why were they there? Frank, Alene's boyfriend, is helping to investigate with his partner Lee. Lee doesn't seem to know how to communicate with people and turns a lot of them off with his brusque manner. He may be smart and notice small details, but you have to know how to talk to witnesses to get the results and information that you need to solve a case.
There is also the introduction of Alene's Uncle, Finn. He disappeared many years ago and sporadically kept in touch with his brother Cal, Alene's father. There are mixed emotions about a reunion based on events of the past from Cal's perspective. I can't blame him if he feels like Finn took the wrong path and didn't honor his commitments over the years. But that is their issue to resolve.
A fun feature of the book is the discovery of a hidden basement in the cafe. Since the building was built in the 20s, it was most likely used as a speakeasy during prohibition. I loved watching that revelation unfold.
We can't forget the relationship between Frank and Alene. There are hints of marriage down the road since, with young children, that is the only way they can live together in Alene's eyes. One roadblock is Frank's daughter, Rhona. She sounds like a handful at 21 and more than what Frank wants to deal with, but there aren't really any other options other than kicking her out since her mother doesn't want anything to do with her daughter either. But he is a caring father and doesn't want to see anything happen to her.
While you don't have to read the first two books in this series to understand the relationship of all of the characters, it might be beneficial to truly understand all of the nuances of the main characters.
This is a solid story in this series, and we give it 4 paws up.
The book is set at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, so I'm sure you can imagine what that has done for Alene's business and the mindset of everyone. The cafe is not bustling with customers. It is takeout only from online orders. Alene's children are restless, and Blanca, who watches the children and takes care of Cal, caught Covid and was in the hospital for a short time. The book brings back the memory of what it was like and the regulations from the cities and government.
The mystery to be solved is who is burning buildings under construction. To top it off, a body was found in the rubble. Who is this person, and why were they there? Frank, Alene's boyfriend, is helping to investigate with his partner Lee. Lee doesn't seem to know how to communicate with people and turns a lot of them off with his brusque manner. He may be smart and notice small details, but you have to know how to talk to witnesses to get the results and information that you need to solve a case.
There is also the introduction of Alene's Uncle, Finn. He disappeared many years ago and sporadically kept in touch with his brother Cal, Alene's father. There are mixed emotions about a reunion based on events of the past from Cal's perspective. I can't blame him if he feels like Finn took the wrong path and didn't honor his commitments over the years. But that is their issue to resolve.
A fun feature of the book is the discovery of a hidden basement in the cafe. Since the building was built in the 20s, it was most likely used as a speakeasy during prohibition. I loved watching that revelation unfold.
We can't forget the relationship between Frank and Alene. There are hints of marriage down the road since, with young children, that is the only way they can live together in Alene's eyes. One roadblock is Frank's daughter, Rhona. She sounds like a handful at 21 and more than what Frank wants to deal with, but there aren't really any other options other than kicking her out since her mother doesn't want anything to do with her daughter either. But he is a caring father and doesn't want to see anything happen to her.
While you don't have to read the first two books in this series to understand the relationship of all of the characters, it might be beneficial to truly understand all of the nuances of the main characters.
This is a solid story in this series, and we give it 4 paws up.
January 31, 2023
Peopled with tons of quirky characters and loaded with family drama, "Charred" is so much more than the average cozy culinary mystery. I actually found myself more involved in the lives of Alene's friends, family, neighbors and coworkers than with the actual mystery itself. However, there is more than one mystery weaving its way through the story and both are intriguingly presented and tied up neatly at the end, along with a bit of excitement.
Set during the start of the pandemic, it was interesting to remember the paranoia and fear that struck when the virus was first around and the many protocols that were in place. This was the first book I read that really documented it in a realistic way and has value as a historical record.
I hadn't read any previous books in this series, but was able to jump right in with no difficulty. A very entertaining book that was quite a refreshing change from the usual fare.
***I received an ARC copy of this book. My review is strictly voluntary.***
Set during the start of the pandemic, it was interesting to remember the paranoia and fear that struck when the virus was first around and the many protocols that were in place. This was the first book I read that really documented it in a realistic way and has value as a historical record.
I hadn't read any previous books in this series, but was able to jump right in with no difficulty. A very entertaining book that was quite a refreshing change from the usual fare.
***I received an ARC copy of this book. My review is strictly voluntary.***
October 31, 2022
Fire is a key theme in this book, and one that repeats itself in interesting ways. First, there is the fire that happened in real life at the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris. This was, of course, devastating in many ways not just to the people of Paris, but onlookers worldwide.
Then, the fictional fire, the one that happens in a Parisian apartment building in the 6th arrondissement back in 1994. In this fire, a five-year-old girl is tragically killed. Many years later, the girl's older brother, Sebastian, grows up to become a successful film director who undertakes to direct a film based on his mother's book about the fire and the death of his sister.
Of course, directing the film raises a lot of emotions in Sebastian that he would rather keep hidden, and of course, suppressing this grief causes him to do some strange things. For instance, buying the apartment where his sister died (that has since been redone) and furnishing it in the exact way that it looked in the 1990s. Understandably, this makes Sebastian's assistant and his father begin to worry about his mental health.
I loved this book, and I loved the juxtaposition between Sebastian's narration as a teenager and as a grown man. There was a heavy sense that he was being an unreliable narrator and not telling the reader the full story, which I always appreciate in a book because I love a good mystery.
Although this book is not technically a mystery (it's more like literary fiction), there is still an element of the mysterious there as the reader begins to find out what actually happened all those years ago when Sebastian's little sister died.
This is a strong showing from Jessica Stilling and one that I will be thinking about for a long time to come. I can't wait to read more from this author in the future!
Then, the fictional fire, the one that happens in a Parisian apartment building in the 6th arrondissement back in 1994. In this fire, a five-year-old girl is tragically killed. Many years later, the girl's older brother, Sebastian, grows up to become a successful film director who undertakes to direct a film based on his mother's book about the fire and the death of his sister.
Of course, directing the film raises a lot of emotions in Sebastian that he would rather keep hidden, and of course, suppressing this grief causes him to do some strange things. For instance, buying the apartment where his sister died (that has since been redone) and furnishing it in the exact way that it looked in the 1990s. Understandably, this makes Sebastian's assistant and his father begin to worry about his mental health.
I loved this book, and I loved the juxtaposition between Sebastian's narration as a teenager and as a grown man. There was a heavy sense that he was being an unreliable narrator and not telling the reader the full story, which I always appreciate in a book because I love a good mystery.
Although this book is not technically a mystery (it's more like literary fiction), there is still an element of the mysterious there as the reader begins to find out what actually happened all those years ago when Sebastian's little sister died.
This is a strong showing from Jessica Stilling and one that I will be thinking about for a long time to come. I can't wait to read more from this author in the future!
February 28, 2023
3.5 stars
Alene Baron, the owner of the Whipped & Sipped cafe (a spot for healthy-but-delicious food) is a likable & relatable protagonist, even though I’d hadn’t met her until this third book in the series. She has common-to-us-all struggles, whether we are in her precise stage of life or not, and she is surrounded by a handful of equally likable supporting characters. From her dad, her kids & her boyfriend (a Chicago homicide detective) to her cafe’s employees and her friends, readers will enjoy the personalities that make up this story.
For its own part, Charred is a cozy mystery with several ingredients, if you will. There is more than one mystery to solve, for starters, as well as a surprise historical find in the cafe’s basement, an estranged family reunion, and relationship struggles of the romantic, friendship, employee/employer, and family varieties. And then there’s the pandemic which throws a whole other wrench in things. Yes, Charred has the dubious honor of being set in May 2020 at the height of anxiety over the virus and its potential long-term fallout. While I honestly wasn’t ready for a book this immersed in those tense days, I do have to admit that it definitely shaped the mood of the story as it dominated Alene’s thoughts & the cafe employee’s conversations.
Bottom Line: Charred by G.P. Gottlieb is an easy-going cozy mystery with interesting characters and lots of layers. Each subplot added a bit of flavor to the plot, and readers will enjoy trying to figure out which of these ingredients play a part in the final dish and which are merely snacks along the way. While this is my first read of the series, it’s not difficult to feel like you’re mostly up to speed. One word of caution: If you’re not of a mindset yet to enjoy reading fiction that is set during the early days of the pandemic, this one may need to go on the backburner for you for a bit longer.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower
Alene Baron, the owner of the Whipped & Sipped cafe (a spot for healthy-but-delicious food) is a likable & relatable protagonist, even though I’d hadn’t met her until this third book in the series. She has common-to-us-all struggles, whether we are in her precise stage of life or not, and she is surrounded by a handful of equally likable supporting characters. From her dad, her kids & her boyfriend (a Chicago homicide detective) to her cafe’s employees and her friends, readers will enjoy the personalities that make up this story.
For its own part, Charred is a cozy mystery with several ingredients, if you will. There is more than one mystery to solve, for starters, as well as a surprise historical find in the cafe’s basement, an estranged family reunion, and relationship struggles of the romantic, friendship, employee/employer, and family varieties. And then there’s the pandemic which throws a whole other wrench in things. Yes, Charred has the dubious honor of being set in May 2020 at the height of anxiety over the virus and its potential long-term fallout. While I honestly wasn’t ready for a book this immersed in those tense days, I do have to admit that it definitely shaped the mood of the story as it dominated Alene’s thoughts & the cafe employee’s conversations.
Bottom Line: Charred by G.P. Gottlieb is an easy-going cozy mystery with interesting characters and lots of layers. Each subplot added a bit of flavor to the plot, and readers will enjoy trying to figure out which of these ingredients play a part in the final dish and which are merely snacks along the way. While this is my first read of the series, it’s not difficult to feel like you’re mostly up to speed. One word of caution: If you’re not of a mindset yet to enjoy reading fiction that is set during the early days of the pandemic, this one may need to go on the backburner for you for a bit longer.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower
February 27, 2023
Charred is the third book in the Whipped and Sipped Mystery series by G.P. Gottlieb and boy is it packed with entertainment !!!
Gottlieb centers Charred around the time of the Coronavirus pandemic which hit main character Alene Baron hard as she is the owner of the Whipped and Sipped Cafe. While Alene is trying to work the schedule so that her employees still work and have a paycheck, she is also learning how to schedule her three children's home schooling work and relying on her elderly father Cal to help. Then her neighbor Kofi asks Arlene to drive him to a site of a recently burned building so that he could try and salvage things for his artwork. Little did either of them know that Kofi was going to see a dead body and swear Alene to secrecy and not tell her boyfriend Frank who is a homicide detective. When a second body is found Alene knows that she has to come clean and tell Frank.
Also in Charred Cal hears from him brother Finn who was involved in a bank robbery years ago, did his time, and then disappeared only to resurface and send money to family. The money that was stolen during the robbery was never recovered and Cal doesn't know that he can believe or trust anything Finn tells him.
Gottlieb packs a lot into this third book Charred... murder, arson, identity theft, gambling, kidnapping, destrucion of property, tax evasion, uncovering a hidden basement under the cafe with tins with treasures in them, family drama, secrets, the pandemic, trying to stay healthy, learning how to live a new life in semi-quarantine.... Readers are going to have so much fun reading this story !!! It is like nothing you have read previously and it grabs your attention instantly and you will not know what is going on around you as you get lost in this story.......
April 16, 2023
My favorite one so far in the series! Love the character interaction and subplots while feeling happy to return to the cafe with its cast of characters. The mystery had me guessing until the end and the return to early pandemic times didn’t dissuade the enjoyment at all. Bravo to my dear friend the author!
November 19, 2022
If you’re seeking an emotional see-saw you could no better than try this book. The ups and downs are so beautifully handled, and the characters so wonderfully drawn, I was engaged from the very beginning, and remained so to the end.
On the surface, this is the story of a filmmaker, one of the ‘arty’ types, making a film in Paris, based on his award-winning mother’s memoirs. But it is so much more than that. It took me back to the short time I visited the city, so full of references I recognised and moods I’d encountered. Coincidentally, I also read this book a short time after reading about the exploits of another author seeking funding for his own book; a story that detailed the difficulties with the money side of filmmaking. I was fascinated to compare the two experiences and learn that this is not an art form for the faint-hearted.
The story is written from the filmmaker’s point of view both in the present, as the film is being made, and in a series of intervening chapters giving his first-hand accounts of the events leading up to the filming and the denouement. As a novel, it deals with the relationships, secrets, loves, desires, hopes, and disasters occurring in small family groups that interact with each other. There is betrayal here, intrigue, romance, honesty and its obverse, deception aimed at others and at the self.
It is also an expose of the nature of wealth and power and their deeply corruptive force. Friendship and love, filial, romantic, and material, are examined and displayed with all their concomitant failures and blessings.
The consequences of lies told either from a desire to protect the innocent or a need to protect the liar are laid open on the page in visceral detail.
An essential element of fiction for me is the ability to empathise with at least one character. In this book I felt with and for many of the main players.
It's a deeply disturbing, beautifully written, uplifting, and completely engaging story.
On the surface, this is the story of a filmmaker, one of the ‘arty’ types, making a film in Paris, based on his award-winning mother’s memoirs. But it is so much more than that. It took me back to the short time I visited the city, so full of references I recognised and moods I’d encountered. Coincidentally, I also read this book a short time after reading about the exploits of another author seeking funding for his own book; a story that detailed the difficulties with the money side of filmmaking. I was fascinated to compare the two experiences and learn that this is not an art form for the faint-hearted.
The story is written from the filmmaker’s point of view both in the present, as the film is being made, and in a series of intervening chapters giving his first-hand accounts of the events leading up to the filming and the denouement. As a novel, it deals with the relationships, secrets, loves, desires, hopes, and disasters occurring in small family groups that interact with each other. There is betrayal here, intrigue, romance, honesty and its obverse, deception aimed at others and at the self.
It is also an expose of the nature of wealth and power and their deeply corruptive force. Friendship and love, filial, romantic, and material, are examined and displayed with all their concomitant failures and blessings.
The consequences of lies told either from a desire to protect the innocent or a need to protect the liar are laid open on the page in visceral detail.
An essential element of fiction for me is the ability to empathise with at least one character. In this book I felt with and for many of the main players.
It's a deeply disturbing, beautifully written, uplifting, and completely engaging story.
October 31, 2022
Set in Paris in both 1994 and present day, 'Between Before and After' by Jessica Stilling is a stunning tale of family secrets, overcoming tragedy and the beauty of artistic endeavor.
Sebastian Foster is a well known indie film director who has decided to shoot his newest film in the gorgeous, one-of-a-kind city of Paris.
Although this may be a dream for many directors, for Sebastian, it comes with a sting of trauma.
Almost 30 years earlier, in 1994, Sebastian and his family were living in Paris when his five-year-old sister was killed in a house fire.
Sebastian's mother has since become a famous novelist who writes books that pertain to her own life, and Sebastian, himself, creates movies based on these books.
Sebastian's mother, Regina wrote a book about the loss of her daughter, and Sebastian now wishes to create this movie in Paris, but as the film proceeds, his friends and family begin to worry about his mental health.
As the book flashes back to 1994, and the events leading up to the fire, secrets about Sebastian and his family slowly begin to come out, and the truth of what happened that night is revealed in a way that, of course, I have no intention of spoiling here.
This is the first novel from Jessica Stilling that I have read and, I have to say, it was an absolute treat!
Few authors have her talent and ability to create such sumptuous sentences.
This book gave me the feeling of being in Paris, both in 1994 and in present, and painted a picture for me of the city of love that was expansive.
This book is a unique and rewarding reading experience. If you enjoy literary fiction and stories where a mystery is slowly revealed, I highly recommend this fantastic novel!
Sebastian Foster is a well known indie film director who has decided to shoot his newest film in the gorgeous, one-of-a-kind city of Paris.
Although this may be a dream for many directors, for Sebastian, it comes with a sting of trauma.
Almost 30 years earlier, in 1994, Sebastian and his family were living in Paris when his five-year-old sister was killed in a house fire.
Sebastian's mother has since become a famous novelist who writes books that pertain to her own life, and Sebastian, himself, creates movies based on these books.
Sebastian's mother, Regina wrote a book about the loss of her daughter, and Sebastian now wishes to create this movie in Paris, but as the film proceeds, his friends and family begin to worry about his mental health.
As the book flashes back to 1994, and the events leading up to the fire, secrets about Sebastian and his family slowly begin to come out, and the truth of what happened that night is revealed in a way that, of course, I have no intention of spoiling here.
This is the first novel from Jessica Stilling that I have read and, I have to say, it was an absolute treat!
Few authors have her talent and ability to create such sumptuous sentences.
This book gave me the feeling of being in Paris, both in 1994 and in present, and painted a picture for me of the city of love that was expansive.
This book is a unique and rewarding reading experience. If you enjoy literary fiction and stories where a mystery is slowly revealed, I highly recommend this fantastic novel!
November 17, 2022
When only a taunt, engaging mystery will do, choose "Between Before and After". Set in Paris, the City of Light, Sebastian, a film director returns to the place of his teenage years to film his mother's latest novel. Even though he has been estranged from her, Sebastian has been following her works and producing films based on them. This novel has special meaning for him, since he is trying to discover what really happened to his young 5-year-old sister all those years ago. He has even gone so far as to buy the old apartment, where his family lived, and recreate the exact furniture in it.
Along the way, he visits his old girlfriend and meets an old schoolfriend of his mother, Regina. Pierre is now a powerful banker, married to a doctor, Marie. They have a son together, Marcel, who used to deal in drugs and got Sebastian involved in shady activities.
As the story unfolds, we see all most of the characters are despicable people with many secrets and lies, especially Pierre and his family. Pierre attempts to blackmail Sebastian by pulling funding from his movie project. Marie is under investigation and Marcel is still dealing with his drug problems. Sebastian's mother also seems to be hiding lots from her son. Only his old girlfriend wants to help.
This story will keep you on the edge of your seat as you follow Sebastian's hunt for the truth and a surprise ending. I especially liked the setting and its descriptions, as well as all the deception of the characters.
To win a copy of your own, follow the tour at:
https://theteddyrosebookreviewsplusmo...
Along the way, he visits his old girlfriend and meets an old schoolfriend of his mother, Regina. Pierre is now a powerful banker, married to a doctor, Marie. They have a son together, Marcel, who used to deal in drugs and got Sebastian involved in shady activities.
As the story unfolds, we see all most of the characters are despicable people with many secrets and lies, especially Pierre and his family. Pierre attempts to blackmail Sebastian by pulling funding from his movie project. Marie is under investigation and Marcel is still dealing with his drug problems. Sebastian's mother also seems to be hiding lots from her son. Only his old girlfriend wants to help.
This story will keep you on the edge of your seat as you follow Sebastian's hunt for the truth and a surprise ending. I especially liked the setting and its descriptions, as well as all the deception of the characters.
To win a copy of your own, follow the tour at:
https://theteddyrosebookreviewsplusmo...
November 17, 2022
Jessica Stilling’s novel is exceptional. The relationship between Sebastian his mother and Lucy, his little curly haired sister, is complex and yet endearing. The novel grabs you from the very first page and takes you through a wild, sometimes extremely frustrating and sad ride until the end. I loved it!
March 6, 2023
With a murder investigation edging close to home and all the balls Alene is juggling at once, CHARRED was an absolute page-turner.
Charred is the third book in author G.P. Gottlieb’s’ culinary-themed cozy mystery series, Whipped and Sipped. With a plethora of engaging characters, enticing vegan dishes and desserts, and its replay of that iconic spring of fear, protests, and confusion, this latest story was unputdownable and sent me back in time as I tried to determine who the killer was.
Alene is the owner of the successful restaurant and manages a large and varied staff of part-timers with a firm hand in a velvet glove. She must deal with so many personalities as she keeps everyone focused on their mutual goals. Ruthie is the yin to her yang, and together they are a great team.Besides the murder victims found on Ruthie’s husband’s projects, Alene struggles with withholding knowledge of the first crime scene, via the early morning foray with Kofi and Kasey, from her beau, Detective Frank Shaw. She finds herself in quite a dilemma, having promised Kasey and Kofi to stay mum while knowing from her own experiences with her ex-husband, Neal, that keeping secrets is hazardous to building and maintaining a trusting, loving relationship.
Additionally, Alene’s Uncle Finn has contacted her father after an absence of over 22 years. Finn, a convicted bank robber, had spent his time in prison, returned home to his wife and child, and then mysteriously went missing. Alene’s father, Cal, his younger brother, is understandably conflicted over his actions and subsequent abandonment, so Finn has appealed to Alene to arrange their reconciliation.With a murder investigation edging closer and closer to home and all the balls Alene is juggling at once, the story was an absolute page-turner. The author also includes several great recipes at the end of the book for some of the dishes mentioned in the story. I recommend CHARRED to cozy mystery readers who enjoy culinary-themed stories, a Chicago setting, or a trip back to the summer of 2020.
I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours.
February 9, 2023
“Normally, the Whipped and Sipped Cafe would have been bustling, the nearby sidewalks filled with people, and the streets packed with cars and bicycles. Now the cafe was barely getting by.”
The year is 2020, and the Coronavirus pandemic has the world firmly in it's clutches. And, perhaps there is nowhere in Chicago that this is more evident than inside of the Whipped and Sipped Cafe.
Although business has been good with online and takeout orders, the owner, Alene, misses the day when customers were allowed to come inside of the cafe and sit for a while, while enjoying her carefully crafted food.
Now, the only people spending any time inside of Whipped and Sipped are the employees, an eclectic group of characters who, although they may bicker and sometimes fight, always ultimately have each other's backs. And, in that interest, when one of Alene's employees, Kacey, comes to her with a problem, Alene is compelled to help.
But the problem is far from a simple one. See, earlier that day, Kacey's gregarious boyfriend, Kofi, was searching the remains of a burned building to find materials for his artwork when he accidentally stumbled across a dead body. Kofi asked Kacey not to tell anyone but she feels that she must confess to Alene, despite knowing that her boss is dating a police officer.
Kacey begs Alene not to tell her boyfriend, Frank, but luckily Frank finds out himself when the body is found by two young boys and he is assigned to the case. Soon, the case develops and another body is found, shedding a whole new light on just what type of crime they might be looking at.
Alene has to find it in herself to deal with not only the struggles of the pandemic affecting her business but the double murder case that seems to be taking an interest in her even as she tries to stay away from it.
The writing is excellent and the quirky characters are so memorable. They will stay with me for a long time to come! This is a fun novel that is well worth the read and one that you should add to your TBR immediately if you enjoy cozy mysteries!
The year is 2020, and the Coronavirus pandemic has the world firmly in it's clutches. And, perhaps there is nowhere in Chicago that this is more evident than inside of the Whipped and Sipped Cafe.
Although business has been good with online and takeout orders, the owner, Alene, misses the day when customers were allowed to come inside of the cafe and sit for a while, while enjoying her carefully crafted food.
Now, the only people spending any time inside of Whipped and Sipped are the employees, an eclectic group of characters who, although they may bicker and sometimes fight, always ultimately have each other's backs. And, in that interest, when one of Alene's employees, Kacey, comes to her with a problem, Alene is compelled to help.
But the problem is far from a simple one. See, earlier that day, Kacey's gregarious boyfriend, Kofi, was searching the remains of a burned building to find materials for his artwork when he accidentally stumbled across a dead body. Kofi asked Kacey not to tell anyone but she feels that she must confess to Alene, despite knowing that her boss is dating a police officer.
Kacey begs Alene not to tell her boyfriend, Frank, but luckily Frank finds out himself when the body is found by two young boys and he is assigned to the case. Soon, the case develops and another body is found, shedding a whole new light on just what type of crime they might be looking at.
Alene has to find it in herself to deal with not only the struggles of the pandemic affecting her business but the double murder case that seems to be taking an interest in her even as she tries to stay away from it.
The writing is excellent and the quirky characters are so memorable. They will stay with me for a long time to come! This is a fun novel that is well worth the read and one that you should add to your TBR immediately if you enjoy cozy mysteries!
January 31, 2023
I love a good cozy mystery to warm up the cold winter months, and this was a great one to start out with!
'Charred: A Whipped and Sipped Mystery' by G.P. Gottlieb has everything that any good cozy mystery needs. It has a fun setting, a tough, but ultimately vulnerable heroine, and, of course, a mystery.
This mystery takes the form of a dead body that gets found in the shell of a burned down building, but I'm getting ahead of myself. Let me start back at the beginning.
Alene Baron is the owner of a small cafe in Chicago called the 'Whipped and Sipped Cafe', which, despite making good money during the start of the pandemic, has begun to struggle in other ways.
Dealing with the lack of customers and Covid restrictions, Alene and her employees struggle to keep up with online orders and sometimes to keep out of each others hair while they do so. But, all of the sudden, things get a lot more tense for Alene when a friend's boyfriend discovers a dead body.
The friend comes to Alene for advice, but begs her not to tell anyone, despite the fact that Alene's boyfriend is a police officer. Eventually, however, the information comes out and a much more sinister crime is discovered that casts this one into a whole new light.
Between working at the cafe, dealing with a deadbeat uncle who has suddenly come back into the picture, and potentially evading a murderer, Alene has a lot on her hands in this surprising, fun read.
I have never read one of Gottlieb's books in the past but I will definitely be seeking them out after this one! This had just enough flavor to make it delicious, and just enough mystery to keep me guessing the whole way through! And I especially loved the recipes that were printed at the end! I was pleasantly surprised that the café was vegan and that the recipes in the back of the book are vegan as well. I am a vegan myself. I give Five stars for this highly caffeinated read!
'Charred: A Whipped and Sipped Mystery' by G.P. Gottlieb has everything that any good cozy mystery needs. It has a fun setting, a tough, but ultimately vulnerable heroine, and, of course, a mystery.
This mystery takes the form of a dead body that gets found in the shell of a burned down building, but I'm getting ahead of myself. Let me start back at the beginning.
Alene Baron is the owner of a small cafe in Chicago called the 'Whipped and Sipped Cafe', which, despite making good money during the start of the pandemic, has begun to struggle in other ways.
Dealing with the lack of customers and Covid restrictions, Alene and her employees struggle to keep up with online orders and sometimes to keep out of each others hair while they do so. But, all of the sudden, things get a lot more tense for Alene when a friend's boyfriend discovers a dead body.
The friend comes to Alene for advice, but begs her not to tell anyone, despite the fact that Alene's boyfriend is a police officer. Eventually, however, the information comes out and a much more sinister crime is discovered that casts this one into a whole new light.
Between working at the cafe, dealing with a deadbeat uncle who has suddenly come back into the picture, and potentially evading a murderer, Alene has a lot on her hands in this surprising, fun read.
I have never read one of Gottlieb's books in the past but I will definitely be seeking them out after this one! This had just enough flavor to make it delicious, and just enough mystery to keep me guessing the whole way through! And I especially loved the recipes that were printed at the end! I was pleasantly surprised that the café was vegan and that the recipes in the back of the book are vegan as well. I am a vegan myself. I give Five stars for this highly caffeinated read!
January 31, 2023
From what I can tell, this is the third book in G.P. Gottlieb's 'Whipped and Sipped,' series, and I am only mad that no one told me about these books sooner! This series is right up my alley, and if you love cozy mysteries with a little romance and baked goods, it will be right up your alley, too!
In this book, the main character, Alene Baron accidentally stumbles into a murder investigation, when a friend's boyfriend finds a dead body. The body is lying in a charred, burned down building, (hence the title of the book, 'Charred.') and the friend's boyfriend is an artist who regularly scours burn sites in order to use materials from them in his art.
Now, Alene's boyfriend is a police officer named Frank, but this is not the reason that her friend, Kacey, tells her about the dead body. No, in fact, Kacey is pretty desperate for Alene to keep this a secret from Frank, for fear that her own boyfriend, Kofi will get in trouble for being on the burn site and for not reporting the body immediately.
Hijinks ensue, and the murder is, of course, investigated, pulling in not only Alene, but her entire colorful crew at the cafe that she owns, into the fold.
Truthfully, with the pandemic in full bloom, the situation at the Whipped and Sipped Cafe was already kind of chaotic, but the murder investigation just adds a cherry on top of that sundae. Alene must contend will all of this, plus the resurfacing of an uncle that disappeared decades ago and the emotional toll that his reappearance is taking on her father.
How does this all play out? Well, you'll have to read the book yourself to find out, and I highly recommend that you do. This is a five-star book in a very neat little package! It even includes recipes in the back. The recipes are vegan but I tried making the ginger cardamon cookies and did not miss the eggs or butter, they were delicious!
In this book, the main character, Alene Baron accidentally stumbles into a murder investigation, when a friend's boyfriend finds a dead body. The body is lying in a charred, burned down building, (hence the title of the book, 'Charred.') and the friend's boyfriend is an artist who regularly scours burn sites in order to use materials from them in his art.
Now, Alene's boyfriend is a police officer named Frank, but this is not the reason that her friend, Kacey, tells her about the dead body. No, in fact, Kacey is pretty desperate for Alene to keep this a secret from Frank, for fear that her own boyfriend, Kofi will get in trouble for being on the burn site and for not reporting the body immediately.
Hijinks ensue, and the murder is, of course, investigated, pulling in not only Alene, but her entire colorful crew at the cafe that she owns, into the fold.
Truthfully, with the pandemic in full bloom, the situation at the Whipped and Sipped Cafe was already kind of chaotic, but the murder investigation just adds a cherry on top of that sundae. Alene must contend will all of this, plus the resurfacing of an uncle that disappeared decades ago and the emotional toll that his reappearance is taking on her father.
How does this all play out? Well, you'll have to read the book yourself to find out, and I highly recommend that you do. This is a five-star book in a very neat little package! It even includes recipes in the back. The recipes are vegan but I tried making the ginger cardamon cookies and did not miss the eggs or butter, they were delicious!
February 9, 2023
Take one serving of charm, add in two cups of intrigue and one mystery to taste, and you will have this captivating new cozy mystery from the author G.P. Gottlieb.
'Charred: A Whipped and Sipped Mystery,' is such a fun read that I completely forgot where I was once, I dove into it.
It's not often that I not only get a great book, but several great recipes to try at the end all wrapped up in one. As a baker, myself, this was too sweet of a temptation to resist!
The mystery of 'Charred,' revolves around a dead body that has been found by the friend of the main character, Alene. Alene owns a bakery in Chicago called Whipped and Sipped, and serves as more than just a boss to her multiple employees, but as a friend that they can trust. This is why her friend comes to her with this information and this is why Alene, despite being unsure whether or not to tell her police officer boyfriend, Frank, ultimately makes the right decision.
Although she may have things under control at work, Alene struggles a bit more at home, where her father's long-time nurse has recently been hospitalized with Covid. Cal, Alene's elderly father, abruptly comes into contact with his long-lost brother, who seemed to vanish without a trace after serving his time in prison for a bank robbery decades earlier.
Alene is unsure of what to think about this sudden reappearance, but as the chips begin to fall into place on the murder investigation, she realizes that her uncle Finn's robbery case may be more relevant than she previously thought.
This all wraps up in a shocking ending that truly had me on the edge of my seat for Alene and all of the Whipped and Sipped gang.
‘|Charred’ is a captivating and fun cozy mystery! I can't wait to see what this author puts out next and I plan on adding her to my 'must read' list immediately!
'Charred: A Whipped and Sipped Mystery,' is such a fun read that I completely forgot where I was once, I dove into it.
It's not often that I not only get a great book, but several great recipes to try at the end all wrapped up in one. As a baker, myself, this was too sweet of a temptation to resist!
The mystery of 'Charred,' revolves around a dead body that has been found by the friend of the main character, Alene. Alene owns a bakery in Chicago called Whipped and Sipped, and serves as more than just a boss to her multiple employees, but as a friend that they can trust. This is why her friend comes to her with this information and this is why Alene, despite being unsure whether or not to tell her police officer boyfriend, Frank, ultimately makes the right decision.
Although she may have things under control at work, Alene struggles a bit more at home, where her father's long-time nurse has recently been hospitalized with Covid. Cal, Alene's elderly father, abruptly comes into contact with his long-lost brother, who seemed to vanish without a trace after serving his time in prison for a bank robbery decades earlier.
Alene is unsure of what to think about this sudden reappearance, but as the chips begin to fall into place on the murder investigation, she realizes that her uncle Finn's robbery case may be more relevant than she previously thought.
This all wraps up in a shocking ending that truly had me on the edge of my seat for Alene and all of the Whipped and Sipped gang.
‘|Charred’ is a captivating and fun cozy mystery! I can't wait to see what this author puts out next and I plan on adding her to my 'must read' list immediately!
March 12, 2023
Covid has hit and the cafe is only operating with delivery and takeout orders. With a skeleton crew and everyone being cautious within their pod, Alene takes Kofi to salvage some wood from a recent fire, only to find out he saw a body in the building and asks her not to tell Frank, who is a homicide detective. While Alene struggles with her promise to Kofi and keeping things from the man she loves, another fire occurs and another body is found. Alene knows she must tell Frank about when Kofi saw the first body, but somehow she always manages to avoid it. Add to the intrigue a long lost uncle who resurfaces and the discovery of a former speakeasy in a newly discovered basement along with jewels and Life is truly hopping for Alene, in the midst of a pandemic.
Soon the murders of the women are tied to Alene's partner and dear friends, Ruthie and Benjie. While they fires were in properties Benjie was building, the bodies themselves are directly tied to the family and Frank's partner is like a dog with a bone and won't stop harassing Ruthie to get the answers he wants. Will Alene be able to help her family heal or will she be yet another woman lost in the shadows of Covid?
While I really enjoy this series, I have to say I am so over covid and wish this had occurred in a different time. I get that the mystery itself is tied to the circumstances of the time, but we're all really over it. That said, the mystery itself was well written and really uses the challenges and restrictions of the time to help build out a solid whodunit. A great series that includes vegan and gluten free recipes as well.
Soon the murders of the women are tied to Alene's partner and dear friends, Ruthie and Benjie. While they fires were in properties Benjie was building, the bodies themselves are directly tied to the family and Frank's partner is like a dog with a bone and won't stop harassing Ruthie to get the answers he wants. Will Alene be able to help her family heal or will she be yet another woman lost in the shadows of Covid?
While I really enjoy this series, I have to say I am so over covid and wish this had occurred in a different time. I get that the mystery itself is tied to the circumstances of the time, but we're all really over it. That said, the mystery itself was well written and really uses the challenges and restrictions of the time to help build out a solid whodunit. A great series that includes vegan and gluten free recipes as well.
December 14, 2022
This is the third in a series of cleverly-titled culinary murder mysteries by G.P. Gottlieb. Like Jessica Fletcher of Cabot Cove, protagonist Alene Baron seems to stumble across a lot of murders. But – also like Jessica – Alene feels like an old friend now, so we sympathize with what she’s going through with her family, her neighborhood, and the quirky characters in her milieu. Especially so since Gottlieb sets this one during the first months of the Covid pandemic. She realistically portrays the unique pressures on parents (Alene is a single mother) and on small business owners (the café trying to survive on take-out), and the difficulties that Chicago experienced with that summer’s social upheaval. In terms of the mystery, Gottlieb is particularly good at juggling the requisite red herrings in the plot; she keeps you guessing until the end about what might be important and what’s not. She also keeps you guessing about Alene and Frank’s developing relationship: will it survive? Again, Gottlieb provides recipes for the appealing goodies she scatters throughout the narrative – no need for any reader to go hungry! Enjoy!
February 14, 2023
For any reader who has read the first two books in the “Whipped and Sipped Mystery” Series, you will immediately feel joy to once again be with the characters you love. It feels like a homecoming of sorts. Alene, the main character and owner of the “ Whipped and Sipped Cafe” brings you directly into her thoughts! She struggles, moralizes and in her stream of conscious way, she will be talking about one thing while ruminating on something else entirely. Her relationships with her Dad Cal, her boyfriend and Detective Frank, and her kids weaves alongside the Cafe family and their varied and sometimes tumultuous relationships. Without wanting to spoil the plot, there’s murders, arson, an Uncle who turns up, a found basement speakeasy and many twists and turns. It is a fun, heartwarming ride. All this, while practically tasting and smelling the food and baked goods that waft throughout the pages. You will enjoy this book on its own or as the next stop in the series. I am always a bit sad when they end and glad there is another book in the making. I don’t want to leave my friends for too long!
February 24, 2023
This book opens in May 2020 and finds Alene Baron trying to keep her café in Chicago opened with a reduced staff and takeout or delivery only. Things are complicated when her long lost uncle returns to town and wants to connect with his brother, Alene’s father. Oh, and there are bodies turning up in burned out buildings owned by Alene’s best friend’s husband.
Since this is the third book in the series, I like the characters. That helped me get on board with the story that is truly the main story in the book, not the mystery that you’d expect in a culinary cozy. While I enjoyed the real main story, that backwards emphasis bothered me, especially how the story of the burned out buildings was resolved. I’m not sure I was ready to read a book set during the pandemic, but the book does a good job of capturing how everyone was feeling about life then. However, it introduces the riots before the event that triggered them happened in real life. The end result was only average.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
Since this is the third book in the series, I like the characters. That helped me get on board with the story that is truly the main story in the book, not the mystery that you’d expect in a culinary cozy. While I enjoyed the real main story, that backwards emphasis bothered me, especially how the story of the burned out buildings was resolved. I’m not sure I was ready to read a book set during the pandemic, but the book does a good job of capturing how everyone was feeling about life then. However, it introduces the riots before the event that triggered them happened in real life. The end result was only average.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
March 13, 2023
I enjoy cozy mysteries and this fit that bill. The plots are generally straight forward and easy to follow and all the books are wrapped up with a bow at the end, leaving the reader with gentle satisfaction. This book tells the story of Alene, a café owner, figuring out to to run a business in 2020. She also has to deal with friends getting COVID, crimes happening around her community, and the social issues that the pandemic brought to the surface. I liked that the book is set in the pandemic and the author portrays that initial panic of the period well. Everyone in the book seems at loose ends which is a realistic picture of the early days of COVID shutdowns. This book is the third in the series and I did not read the first two. That said, I struggled with this book. I think much of the character development was done in the previous books so I had a hard time keeping the characters straight. The author tries to remedy this with a character key in the front of the book, but reading on a Kindle makes going back and forth tougher. The ending felt a bit rushed and I don't know that I would actively seek this author's books again.
April 9, 2023
Charred (A Whipped and Sipped Mystery) by G.P. Gottlieb is set during the early days of the pandemic with Alene having converted her cafe to deliveries to keep it afloat and her staff employed. A fire ravages the affordable housing project owned by the husband of Ruthie, Alene’s best friend and pastry chef. Then not one but two bodies are found in the charred debris. To further complicate matters Alene’s uncle Finn, convicted of a bank robbery years earlier, selects this moment to show up to make amends with her father.
Interestingly this book seems to be more about the trauma and struggles of the pandemic, rather than about the mystery, which never seemed to be more than a secondary character. This was my first book by this author and I kept wondering if there was any character who was not troubled in some way, from a recovering addict to a lonely, unfulfilled older person, Ruthie was the only positive character but excessively so. I reviewed an advance reader copy and all opinions are my own. The author did capture the uncertainty and challenges of the pandemic very well but missed the mark otherwise - for me.
Interestingly this book seems to be more about the trauma and struggles of the pandemic, rather than about the mystery, which never seemed to be more than a secondary character. This was my first book by this author and I kept wondering if there was any character who was not troubled in some way, from a recovering addict to a lonely, unfulfilled older person, Ruthie was the only positive character but excessively so. I reviewed an advance reader copy and all opinions are my own. The author did capture the uncertainty and challenges of the pandemic very well but missed the mark otherwise - for me.
December 25, 2025
Jessica Stilling's Between Before and After is a masterfully crafted literary novel that delves deep into the intricate, often painful, relationship between life and art. The story follows indie director Sebastian Foster, who has built a successful career adapting his estranged, award-winning mother's novels, a comfortable, if emotionally distant, niche. This delicate balance shatters when his latest film, which brushes against the tragic childhood death of his sister, forces him to confront the raw, bandaged wounds of his past.
The novel’s dual-timeline structure is its brilliant backbone, weaving between Sebastian’s present-day return to Paris to make the film and his tumultuous teenage years living in the same city two decades prior. This technique does more than reveal secrets; it immerses the reader in the visceral process of memory and realization, showing how the past actively sculpts the present. The streets of Paris serve as more than a picturesque backdrop; they become a character in themselves, a constant, haunting witness to family tragedy, youthful anguish, and middle-aged reckoning.
The novel’s dual-timeline structure is its brilliant backbone, weaving between Sebastian’s present-day return to Paris to make the film and his tumultuous teenage years living in the same city two decades prior. This technique does more than reveal secrets; it immerses the reader in the visceral process of memory and realization, showing how the past actively sculpts the present. The streets of Paris serve as more than a picturesque backdrop; they become a character in themselves, a constant, haunting witness to family tragedy, youthful anguish, and middle-aged reckoning.
January 31, 2023
Charred; A Whipped and Sipped Mystery by G. P. Gottlieb delivers on all fronts. Charred is an amusing read with characters that are both quirky and believable. The Chicago neighborhood cast is both likeable and interesting enough to keep us caring about what happens to them. Alene Baron, our amateur sleuth and owner of the Whipped and Sipped Cafe', and her besty and chief pastry chef, Ruth Rosin, share the challenges of family life, running a business and clues to the unfolding mystery. Alene's boyfriend, Detective Frank Shaw, shares just enough information with Alene to whet her curiosity, and peppers the story with a little bit of romance to keep both Alene and the reader happy.The mystery is well seeded with enough clues and misdirection to keep the reader guessing until the dramatic denouement. All the recipes look interesting, and after trying the yummy Pumpernickel Bread, I can't wait to make the Meyer Lemon Rosemary Cake.
February 14, 2025
G. P. Gottlieb has written a charming cozy with fun characters who revolve around a vegan cafe called Whipped and Sipped in Chicago. It was nice to see a book that takes place during he Covid crisis and when everyone has to prevent disease transmission with masks and distance. Alene, the owner of the cafe, has a whole cast of characters around her. Their tranquility is ruptured when a body is found in the burnt-out building of the husband of one of her employees. Who killed this person and why? There is more than one mystery here. The plots involve a lost brother of Alene’s father, a boy on the spectrum who is very nicely written, a street person, and nicely delineated employees and family members. Plus a homicide-detective love interest. The causes of the murders go back to money lost many years before and old grudges. There is lots of family drama. And you will never guess the killer—I certainly didn’t. It’s a light and very fun book. I recommend it.
December 23, 2022
Ms. Gottlieb mixes a joy of cooking, family connections, relationship quandaries, and of course a murder mystery together to give the reader a healthy dose of stories to follow. Many will relate to the struggles the Whipped and Sipped Cafe faces during COVID, and the need for small business owner Alene to juggle keeping her customers happy while making sure her employees don't kill each other (no pun intended). All the more interesting is the ability to follow each character throughout her series of books to watch their evolution. A very fun read for anyone who loves a mystery and all the plot twists that follow. An extra bonus for readers in the Chicago area to see their hometown through another lens. Grab a cup of hot chocolate, a freshly baked muffin, and lose yourself in this book.
April 1, 2023
Alene Baron is dealing with frustrated employees, closed schools, and a homeless man who harasses customers outside the door of her café. Then, two dead bodies turn up in the burned remains of buildings owned by the husband of Alene’s best friend and pastry chef, Ruthie. Both bodies are wearing jackets that once belonged to Ruthie and crumbled in the pockets are the café’s distinctive wrappers. At the same time, Alene's uncle, a convicted felon, has resurfaced after disappearing for 22 years. It's all too much for the owner of the Whipped and Sipped Café.
The homeless man was responsible for the deaths. He also was suspected of being the same person who threw the brick into the cafe.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.
The homeless man was responsible for the deaths. He also was suspected of being the same person who threw the brick into the cafe.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.
March 27, 2024
Two monumental secrets from the past—one within the protagonist’s family and the other involving her café—intersect in this well-written mystery set in Chicago. This reader enjoyed trying to guess who was lying or not, and why, after a body shows up at a burned-down construction site not far from the Whipped and Sipped Café run by Alene Baron. The pandemic has affected Alene’s café business in a big way, creating tensions among staff, customers, neighbors, her own family, and even cops who might be among the suspects. A troubled, shady uncle adds to the intrigue and action. Part of the joy of reading this series is Alene’s strong focus on the welfare of her family that includes her children and dad, all of whom help create emotional, entertaining layering to an already-intriguing murder plot that delivers a surprise ending. Highly recommended!
February 22, 2023
Charred takes us deep into the Whipped and Sipped Café and the delightful condominium community where café owner Alene lives. It is spring of 2020 and Chicago is deep in the throes of the shutdown. The cafe staff takes it in stride, keeping their distance while sharing their love of all the important things. Danger lurks around every corner as Alene uncovers festering secrets connected to a burnt body in her neighborhood while struggling to keep the café afloat. This book is a wonderful read that makes you grateful for family, good neighbors, and good food no matter what the world throws at you!
March 3, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed Charred by G.P. Gottlieb. I had read the first two books in this series and this one was just as enjoyable as the first two. This cozy mystery had great character development, lots of twists and turns and amazing recipe ideas. I couldn't put it down! Since I live in Chicago where the book takes place, I enjoyed and appreciated all the Chicago references and the accuracy of the many details related to Chicago. This is the first novel I have read that takes place during the Coronavirus pandemic and had almost forgotten how much all we had gone through to survive. A must read for anyone!
August 12, 2025
Alene Barron is the owner of a popular cafe in Chicago. She has way too much on her plate these days. She is trying to keep her employees busy and earning money while the COVID pandemic has forced her to close her doors to eat-in customers. A nearby fire has two close friends in the cross-hairs of local police detectives. A long-lost uncle has resurfaced, upsetting her aging father and possibly putting the family in danger.
None of this stops Alene and her friends from steadily baking delicious goodies and sharing their recipes.
This is a delicious read. No calories involved unless you start trying the recipes. Enjoy.
None of this stops Alene and her friends from steadily baking delicious goodies and sharing their recipes.
This is a delicious read. No calories involved unless you start trying the recipes. Enjoy.
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