What do you think?
Rate this book
A Gourmet Girl Mystery #2
Simmer Down
Chloe Carter's dream boyfriend, Josh Driscoll, is prepping for the opening of Simmer, Boston's hottest new restaurant - which means her love life is being put on the back burner. Josh is too busy to be her own personal naked chef for awhile.
But bigger problems are to come. At a fund-raiser featuring samples of Josh's cuisine, a trendy club owner is found bludgeoned to death by Josh's state-of-the-art, professional-grade food processor, the ominously named Robocoupe.
Chloe would love to pin the murder on Josh's ex-girlfriend, who found the body...and who's also still after Josh's body. But Chloe's own boss at the Boston Organization Against Sexual and Other Harassment in the Workplace could be a possibility too. Word is, the murder victim was worse than your everyday flirt, and he just might have put the moves on the wrong woman. If that's the case, his wife had a motive, too, and Chloe has to check out her alibi.
By opening night at Simmer, the list of suspects is almost longer than the line to get in. And Chloe is struggling to solve the crime before the final course is served.
But bigger problems are to come. At a fund-raiser featuring samples of Josh's cuisine, a trendy club owner is found bludgeoned to death by Josh's state-of-the-art, professional-grade food processor, the ominously named Robocoupe.
Chloe would love to pin the murder on Josh's ex-girlfriend, who found the body...and who's also still after Josh's body. But Chloe's own boss at the Boston Organization Against Sexual and Other Harassment in the Workplace could be a possibility too. Word is, the murder victim was worse than your everyday flirt, and he just might have put the moves on the wrong woman. If that's the case, his wife had a motive, too, and Chloe has to check out her alibi.
By opening night at Simmer, the list of suspects is almost longer than the line to get in. And Chloe is struggling to solve the crime before the final course is served.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published March 6, 2007
27 people are currently reading
955 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
December 26, 2007
This is a culinary mystery chick-lit combination. It's a lot lighter than say, the Diane Mott Davidson books, and might be perfect for the chick-lit set or younger reader. I thought it was a bit of a yawn, with too much "clean" romance and simple plot.
May 16, 2018
When I got this book in a local bookstore, I really didn’t have any idea that the author Jessica Conant-Park is the same person who wrote Flat-Out Love which was one of my favorite books back in 2014. (Which I’ll be discussing in the next days to come)
Now, when I got to Goodreads to check on this book, and saw the Note that says “writes YA novels under Jessica Park,” I was surprised. Not only is Jessica Park a great romantic storyteller, I honestly loved Simmer Down because it’s a classic whodunnit story that also features culinary recipes that a mother like me would love to try. What also made this book sensational in my opinion? It is hilariously funny.
Chloe’s lovelife had finally blossomed, her boyfriend Josh Driscoll is a sweetie pie and their food business was about to take off. And then, boom! There’s a rival restaurant and an ex-lover involved, a particularly delicate kitchen contraption and a murder along the way.
Have I told you that it’s a really funny read? Because honestly, in between the pages, I found myself laughing and snorting out loud (okay, I know, snorting not cool). But seriously, Chloe is adorable!
Simmer Down is the second book in the Gourmet Girl Mystery series, co-written with Park’s mother, Susan Conant. I haven’t read the first book, but it’s okay because there were snippets on this sequel which made it easy for me to relate with the characters and setting. This is a short but utterly fun read. It contains the necessary ingredients needed to make a delicious and delightful mystery – comedy, a little drama, romance, action, suspense and yes, a little love-triangle, too! But don’t fret, you won’t get annoyed with that kind of triangle, I promise! A perfect afternoon book that will encourage you to cook and read even more.
Now, when I got to Goodreads to check on this book, and saw the Note that says “writes YA novels under Jessica Park,” I was surprised. Not only is Jessica Park a great romantic storyteller, I honestly loved Simmer Down because it’s a classic whodunnit story that also features culinary recipes that a mother like me would love to try. What also made this book sensational in my opinion? It is hilariously funny.
Chloe’s lovelife had finally blossomed, her boyfriend Josh Driscoll is a sweetie pie and their food business was about to take off. And then, boom! There’s a rival restaurant and an ex-lover involved, a particularly delicate kitchen contraption and a murder along the way.
Have I told you that it’s a really funny read? Because honestly, in between the pages, I found myself laughing and snorting out loud (okay, I know, snorting not cool). But seriously, Chloe is adorable!
Simmer Down is the second book in the Gourmet Girl Mystery series, co-written with Park’s mother, Susan Conant. I haven’t read the first book, but it’s okay because there were snippets on this sequel which made it easy for me to relate with the characters and setting. This is a short but utterly fun read. It contains the necessary ingredients needed to make a delicious and delightful mystery – comedy, a little drama, romance, action, suspense and yes, a little love-triangle, too! But don’t fret, you won’t get annoyed with that kind of triangle, I promise! A perfect afternoon book that will encourage you to cook and read even more.
September 16, 2012
It was o.k. Not really much of a mystery- Chloe isn't exactly Miss Marple. She is just around for the action. Passive? Very PC. She is studying to be a social worker, has a boy friend, a gay friend, a married sister and her bff is pregnant by one guy (who has the job du jur) and making out ith another guy. I guess I missed the bisexul in the story. Chloe's boy friend Josh is an up and coming chef, he is showcasing his food at a charity event when an important foodie is murdered at the event. Who killed him? This book is better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick.
May 6, 2012
If you're going to call a series "Gourmet Girl," shouldn't the main character have some connection to food other than an all-consuming interest in her chef boyfriend. She appears to be interested in nothing other than furthering his career and talking about him. Her attitude towards her own grad school work is dismissive.
September 17, 2013
This is a quick, light read. It has been quite a while since I read the first book in this series but am pretty sure I enjoyed it more than this. There is not much of a mystery, and I cannot decide if I like Chloe...she seems terribly shallow and narcissistic. But, it is a fun read, and the talk of food makes me hungry.
May 12, 2008
This is a fun book. If you're in the mood for a light mystery with a little food thrown in for good measure, you'll enjoy this series. This is the second in a series but I think you don't have to read the first to follow.
March 1, 2010
Hard to get into and remained quite boring. I kept with it as i remembered liking the first book, but ugh, this one was painful! And the ending? -total dud. I can't even say it was "ok" because the ending was so blah- that it actually annoyed me!
February 10, 2023
Good mystery and good characters. I enjoyed the book f BFF wry much.
Read
December 1, 2025Uninspiring. The MC does not make her life, relationship, or even the murder, interesting.
Checked out the recipes at the end, just basics - potatoes (bake thin slices with good cheese and whipped eggs/cream), vinaigrette (hold on - oil, rice vinegar, garlic, a few more spices...) cucumber with greens (literally - cut out the center, stuff greens in, slice, trickle dressing over. Nice presentation idea.
Checked out the recipes at the end, just basics - potatoes (bake thin slices with good cheese and whipped eggs/cream), vinaigrette (hold on - oil, rice vinegar, garlic, a few more spices...) cucumber with greens (literally - cut out the center, stuff greens in, slice, trickle dressing over. Nice presentation idea.
March 1, 2012
This second installment in the "Gourmet Girl" series was just ok. I was looking forward to seeing how Chloe grew and progressed as a character and how her chef boyfriend would enhance the storyline. I was disappointed to discover she was less likeable in book 2. There was no humor. There was no intrigue. There was no sense of urgency to find the killer. It was really all about Chloe hoping to celebrate New Years with Josh which was so unrealistic since he was kicking off a new restaurant that night. Already she's whining about her time away from him when he has clearly stated what chef hours are like over and over and over. This is a recipe for a broken heart, Chloe. Find a new man or get over yourself.
The "chef instructions" throughout the book were odd. Really, is it important to the story to talk about bring a dish to room temperature before putting it in the fridge? I felt like the authors were trying too hard to be culinary experts and were adding in too much of the "insider information" they clearly glean from Jessica's husband.
The murder story line was very bland compared to the original. To keep with the food theme, it definitely could use more salt, pepper and perhaps a splash of siracha.
Chole is not an appealing amateur sleuth. Perhaps she should stop slamming social work grad school and apply herself to her studies? She needs a fall back plan for when Josh dumps her or takes a job at a restaurant that stays in business for longer than one month. Surely he will start to see the pattern of the restaurant ownership turning murderous since he met her??
The "chef instructions" throughout the book were odd. Really, is it important to the story to talk about bring a dish to room temperature before putting it in the fridge? I felt like the authors were trying too hard to be culinary experts and were adding in too much of the "insider information" they clearly glean from Jessica's husband.
The murder story line was very bland compared to the original. To keep with the food theme, it definitely could use more salt, pepper and perhaps a splash of siracha.
Chole is not an appealing amateur sleuth. Perhaps she should stop slamming social work grad school and apply herself to her studies? She needs a fall back plan for when Josh dumps her or takes a job at a restaurant that stays in business for longer than one month. Surely he will start to see the pattern of the restaurant ownership turning murderous since he met her??
January 30, 2015
In the second of the Gourmet Girl Mysteries, Chloe’s devotion to social work is questionable as are her detective skills. While she pestered the police in “Steamed”, Chloe is avoiding them in this story because she has decided that a certain person is the murdered and everything must be done to keep them from looking at that person. Chloe’s choice of murderer is weak and her people skills are not developing as one would hope for a person who is starting a second semester in a graduate program in Social Work. Chloe’s not cut out for social work or police work and I’m thinking that book three in the series may go back to the library unread.
January 25, 2009
I love the Susan Conant dog mysteries--this did not even come close...
May 16, 2009
Rather mediocre cozy mystery. Sort of dragged along.
June 16, 2009
I got two pages into this book and stopped reading because of the laungage. to many swears in such a short time. This will not be one book I attempt to read again.
November 7, 2009
I read this because it's written by a fellow Mac grad. Not my cup of tea; I'll be sticking with Tim O'Brien in the future.
March 15, 2010
easy to read, fun characters but not as good as the Diane Mott Davidson books
August 11, 2019
Although her heart doesn't really appear to be in it, Chloe Carter is studying to be a social worker in Boston, MA. Her main focus is her boyfriend, Josh Driscoll, who's recently been hired as the lead chef at a new restaurant, Simmer, soon to be opening on New Year's Eve. A few nights before the grand opening, Chloe and Josh are participating in a fundraising event, when not only do both of their ex's show up unexpectedly, but the event is interrupted by the discovery of a dead body.
As with the first book in this series, this book is fairly humorous, with Chloe's family and best friend adding to the mix, as well as Chloe's internship supervisor, Naomi Campbell, not to be confused with the supermodel of the same name.
As with the first book in this series, this book is fairly humorous, with Chloe's family and best friend adding to the mix, as well as Chloe's internship supervisor, Naomi Campbell, not to be confused with the supermodel of the same name.
May 14, 2022
A fantastic follow-up
I liked the first one in the series but this one even better! Laugh out loud funny! A lighter take on a mystery with a youthful perspective but certainly enough to keep my interest in the story. Chloe can be selfish and floundering but I find her real and interesting. Although she complains about her studies in social work she has a n interest in people , even if she thinks they are a murderer! Lighthearted and humorous. Just enjoyable
I liked the first one in the series but this one even better! Laugh out loud funny! A lighter take on a mystery with a youthful perspective but certainly enough to keep my interest in the story. Chloe can be selfish and floundering but I find her real and interesting. Although she complains about her studies in social work she has a n interest in people , even if she thinks they are a murderer! Lighthearted and humorous. Just enjoyable
August 9, 2022
Chloe is a rather shallow 20 something who is obsessed with eating good food and more so with her chef boyfriend. There is not a lot of substance to Chloe or to her relationship. Josh seems to be somewhat of a jerk sometimes. Chloe isn't even really part of solving the mystery. The first book she figured it out but in this one she is more passive - just kind of there to see what unfolds after multiple wrong guesses and false accusations.
July 6, 2017
This is the second book in the Gourmet Girl mysteries. I love wintery/Christmas time stories so the time of year the book took place had me smiling. Some romance shockers made reading entertaining. I was surprised on who murdered the victum. I didn't see it commong but some possiabilities were out there. Recipes included!
August 5, 2025
Books good. Main character is rather obsessed with sex. Definitely not a feminist by any measure of the word. What I liked was the plot. The murder was interesting. The storyline was annoying. It's decent read. Recommend.
October 29, 2025
The mystery is good but Chloe is so annoying, she is so opinionated. I think she must have been one of those mean girls at school , because she criticises everyone and makes fun of their fashion choices their hairstyles etc.
July 1, 2017
Loved this book as well. Great cast of characters. Loved that Naomi was fleshed out more and became more likable.
April 5, 2019
Fun quick read
September 12, 2019
Wish these ladies would keep on writing! Even if on social work! I love them!
June 14, 2021
The main character is so clueless. She stumbles stupidly into whoever the murderer is lol
September 21, 2021
Just your fun chick-lit cooking mystery. I like see how the main characters are growing in their relationship.
December 5, 2021
The "mystery" part of this book was rather lame. I would probably stop reading this series, but i have a book bundle so i am hoping the next one is better.
January 31, 2022
Ugh, I did not like this one, good thing it was short!! The recipes in the back seem interesting
March 23, 2022
Good book, characters were great.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews