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A Della Cooks Mystery #3
The Proof is in the Pudding
A mouthwatering new Della Cools mystery-recipes included.
Owner of a Santa Monica cooking school and cable cooking show star Della Carmichael is one of three judges for an A-list cook-off-but it's the celebrities who are getting knocked off.
Owner of a Santa Monica cooking school and cable cooking show star Della Carmichael is one of three judges for an A-list cook-off-but it's the celebrities who are getting knocked off.
308 pages, Paperback
First published December 17, 2009
13 people are currently reading
326 people want to read
About the author
Melinda Wells
8 books70 followersMelinda Wells is a pseudonym used by Linda Palmer.
Series:
* Della Cooks Mystery
Series:
* Della Cooks Mystery
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
August 7, 2023
It was good to get back to this series. I enjoy the characters, Della is a fun sleuth. The mystery was good, I always enjoy a good cooking competition and my top suspect was guilty. There are recipes included at the end so you can cook all the dishes Della made in the story. #readforkimberly
February 18, 2010
The Proof is in the Pudding
By Melinda Wells,
ISBN:978-0-425-23311-5
Pub. Berkley Prime Crime
2010, 291 pages
Mass Market Original
This is the author’s third in her series featuring Della Carmichael. And yes it comes with several pages of what appear to be mouth-watering recipes. While noting that the author sent a copy of the book to review, I have not (yet) tried any of the recipes. However, if they are on a par with the quality of this author’s writing which is excellent, they should be worthwhile.
Della Carmichael is the hostess and chef of a West Coast cable cooking show. She also runs a small cooking school. Her deceased husband was a cop so she has some useful connections for her adventures. Make no mistake, this novel is not a cozy. Even though set in Southern California, and the circle of suspects and other characters is limited, many of readers’ expectations about cozy crime novels are broken. There are pets. There is some fine humor and the pace is enough to keep even non–foodies interested. And, this is a whee of a story.
An Important Personage is staging a celebrity cooking competition for both humanitarian and personal reasons. Della is brought in at the last minute to be one of three judges of the event. There she encounters another judge who is definitely not on her ‘A’ list of desirable guests. When the man is stabbed to death during the beginning of the cooking competition, in a delightful and well-thought-out scene, suspicion falls variously on a close friend who is a cop, the cop’s daughter and on Della herself.
Wells is a good writer and she deals with one of the major problems of writing a series in a competent and forthright manner. If a series is to continue, we can’t have the protagonist in such jeopardy that she dies. However, by recognizing the quandary , this author builds the tension in other ways, and the detecting is handled in a well-done manner. In addition, Della Carmichael acts like a real, fully realized woman, with desires, problems, and some pets and friends who are occasionally troublesome. They are interesting which contributes to the stew without distracting us from the main story.
I was completely charmed by Ms. Carmichael and her adventure. Her world is fun, funny, and as real as can be. Moreover, the story is well plotted and has a very satisfactory conclusion.
By Melinda Wells,
ISBN:978-0-425-23311-5
Pub. Berkley Prime Crime
2010, 291 pages
Mass Market Original
This is the author’s third in her series featuring Della Carmichael. And yes it comes with several pages of what appear to be mouth-watering recipes. While noting that the author sent a copy of the book to review, I have not (yet) tried any of the recipes. However, if they are on a par with the quality of this author’s writing which is excellent, they should be worthwhile.
Della Carmichael is the hostess and chef of a West Coast cable cooking show. She also runs a small cooking school. Her deceased husband was a cop so she has some useful connections for her adventures. Make no mistake, this novel is not a cozy. Even though set in Southern California, and the circle of suspects and other characters is limited, many of readers’ expectations about cozy crime novels are broken. There are pets. There is some fine humor and the pace is enough to keep even non–foodies interested. And, this is a whee of a story.
An Important Personage is staging a celebrity cooking competition for both humanitarian and personal reasons. Della is brought in at the last minute to be one of three judges of the event. There she encounters another judge who is definitely not on her ‘A’ list of desirable guests. When the man is stabbed to death during the beginning of the cooking competition, in a delightful and well-thought-out scene, suspicion falls variously on a close friend who is a cop, the cop’s daughter and on Della herself.
Wells is a good writer and she deals with one of the major problems of writing a series in a competent and forthright manner. If a series is to continue, we can’t have the protagonist in such jeopardy that she dies. However, by recognizing the quandary , this author builds the tension in other ways, and the detecting is handled in a well-done manner. In addition, Della Carmichael acts like a real, fully realized woman, with desires, problems, and some pets and friends who are occasionally troublesome. They are interesting which contributes to the stew without distracting us from the main story.
I was completely charmed by Ms. Carmichael and her adventure. Her world is fun, funny, and as real as can be. Moreover, the story is well plotted and has a very satisfactory conclusion.
October 17, 2010
Over the last couple of months, I've become a huge fan of the "Della Cooks" series. "The Proof is in the Pudding" is really the best so far! Wells does an excellent job of digging deeper into her characters. In fact, I felt that after reading this book, I now have a much better idea of just who Nicholas D'Martino, Liddy, John, Shannon and Eileen - her closest friends really are. In previous installments of this series, I've felt that Wells didn't go as far as she could in developing Della's friends into active players in the book, and this time she really hits a home run, in this respect.
When Della finds out she's one of three judges for a celebrity cooking contest at a famous landmark hotel, she's a bit apprehensive. It turns out she had good reason to worry when after a diversion involving a smoke bomb, one of the other judges is found dead in the middle of the ballroom where the contest was being held. This time, the stakes are high because Della's close friend John is a suspect in the murder. Della fighting hard to protect John and his family commits a crime - when the police find out, they are hot on her trail, even as Della uncovers a growing list of possible suspects. Will Della go to far in her search for the culprit, and end up being the next victim? Read the book and find out!
I can't wait for the next "Della Cooks" mystery.
When Della finds out she's one of three judges for a celebrity cooking contest at a famous landmark hotel, she's a bit apprehensive. It turns out she had good reason to worry when after a diversion involving a smoke bomb, one of the other judges is found dead in the middle of the ballroom where the contest was being held. This time, the stakes are high because Della's close friend John is a suspect in the murder. Della fighting hard to protect John and his family commits a crime - when the police find out, they are hot on her trail, even as Della uncovers a growing list of possible suspects. Will Della go to far in her search for the culprit, and end up being the next victim? Read the book and find out!
I can't wait for the next "Della Cooks" mystery.
November 1, 2017
This one really made us work.
Good mystery.
Fun detecting on Della's part
I really would watch her show
Good mystery.
Fun detecting on Della's part
I really would watch her show
November 6, 2025
A cleverly worked mystery.
April 28, 2023
Troubles seem to come in threes, at least that is what it seems like to our heroine. Put out one fire and another crops up. It is enough to put a serious chill on the season's events.
This is book nine of the series, but it does just fine as a standalone. No prior reading is required.
This is a cozy witch mystery with a bakery as the centerpiece. The story is well written, easy to read with a great setting filled with mystery and intrigue. The characters are well done and certainly provide some interesting variety within the story. The mystery is good, with enough twists to it to keep you going up until the end. I loved the zany bits throughout the story as they add a nice touch of humor. Overall, another very fun read and I look forward to more in this series.
Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout for review purposes.
This is book nine of the series, but it does just fine as a standalone. No prior reading is required.
This is a cozy witch mystery with a bakery as the centerpiece. The story is well written, easy to read with a great setting filled with mystery and intrigue. The characters are well done and certainly provide some interesting variety within the story. The mystery is good, with enough twists to it to keep you going up until the end. I loved the zany bits throughout the story as they add a nice touch of humor. Overall, another very fun read and I look forward to more in this series.
Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout for review purposes.
May 9, 2017
3rd book in series. Della is chosen to judge a Cook-off contest at the Olympia Grand Hotel. One of the other judges is Keith Ingram who she finds out has been dating Eileen (her spiritual daughter) John's real daughter. Keith dumps her to marry Tina Long daughter of the billionaire that owns the hotel. He has secretly videotaped Eileen and several other women while having sex with them. He blackmails Eileen right before he is murdered. John is suspected as the killer and Della works on proving him innocent Nickolas and her are getting closer in their relationship then Della ever thought she was able to get after Mack's death.
February 26, 2024
This book had a very strange mystery and resolution. It's been awhile since I read #2, but some time seems to have passed between the volumes. Della seems to have embraced being a amateur sleuth, at least in defense of her family. The dead person seems to have been a horrible person, but the murderer and all the other characters are equally horrible. So I didn't dislike the book, but I didn't enjoy it as much as the previous two. I prefer a little lightness in my cozies.
March 19, 2024
Loved, loved, loved it! The combination of cottage mystery, Georgianna and actual historical figures has made these books my reading delight! I can’t believe I have to wait months for the next adventure! Also, it fills my heart with joy that Rhys Bowen and Louise Penney are friends ❤️
October 20, 2018
After initially having a hard time getting into it, I found the book enjoyable.
July 29, 2019
Fun cozy mystery series!
May 20, 2020
3.5 stars
This is the first book I read in this series. Haven't warmed to the characters all that much. Decent mystery.
This is the first book I read in this series. Haven't warmed to the characters all that much. Decent mystery.
March 12, 2010
The third book in a line of culinary mysteries, this cozy by Melinda Wells is an engaging story of celebrity and murder. Della Carmichael, once married to a police detective, now runs a cooking school and hosts a cable television cooking show, all of which make her a good choice for a fill-in spot to judge a local charity celebrity cook-off. Two other judges will join Della, one of whom has been dating the daughter of her close friend, but reports coming from Della’s publicist (among other people) indicate that this food critic and judge is a sketchy character.
The night of the cook-off, things begin going awry. First there is a scene between the girl’s father and the judge (with his daughter the victim of a romantic disaster, and worse). Then, smoke appears and overwhelms the crowd at the charity cook-off. While that is happening, a best-selling author who is preparing (what else) pudding for the contest, grabs Della and pulls her to the floor to protect her. When the smoke clears, Della’s fellow (bad guy) judge is dead, with the police’s most likely suspect Della’s friend (another detective who once worked with Della’s husband).
Thus begins the mystery of "The Proof is in the Pudding." Of course, there are a lot more twists and turns and dishes to be made (with recipes included at the end of the book). Della wants not only to protect her friend’s daughter from possible scandal, but to clear his name of the crime as well. The mystery of who killed the cooking judge and why are interesting enough, but the heart and charm of the story is the amateur detective, Della, herself. Her life and friends and even her pets are what give the story value.
Those who are serious foodies may find the story and recipes a bit too pedestrian, even disappointing. Della reminds one of a Rachel Ray-type of television personality, whose tastes and recipes run closer to homespun cooks than true chefs. Still, there’s plenty of charm and camaraderie in this delightful book to keep the cozy reader going. There’s nothing to set the book apart from similar food-based cozies, but the writing and story are solid, and the characters who populate Della’s world are eminently likeable. Despite being part of a cooking series, "The Proof is in the Pudding" works as a singular book, complete unto itself. Even if the recipes do not charm, the character herself is sure to win over critics.
The night of the cook-off, things begin going awry. First there is a scene between the girl’s father and the judge (with his daughter the victim of a romantic disaster, and worse). Then, smoke appears and overwhelms the crowd at the charity cook-off. While that is happening, a best-selling author who is preparing (what else) pudding for the contest, grabs Della and pulls her to the floor to protect her. When the smoke clears, Della’s fellow (bad guy) judge is dead, with the police’s most likely suspect Della’s friend (another detective who once worked with Della’s husband).
Thus begins the mystery of "The Proof is in the Pudding." Of course, there are a lot more twists and turns and dishes to be made (with recipes included at the end of the book). Della wants not only to protect her friend’s daughter from possible scandal, but to clear his name of the crime as well. The mystery of who killed the cooking judge and why are interesting enough, but the heart and charm of the story is the amateur detective, Della, herself. Her life and friends and even her pets are what give the story value.
Those who are serious foodies may find the story and recipes a bit too pedestrian, even disappointing. Della reminds one of a Rachel Ray-type of television personality, whose tastes and recipes run closer to homespun cooks than true chefs. Still, there’s plenty of charm and camaraderie in this delightful book to keep the cozy reader going. There’s nothing to set the book apart from similar food-based cozies, but the writing and story are solid, and the characters who populate Della’s world are eminently likeable. Despite being part of a cooking series, "The Proof is in the Pudding" works as a singular book, complete unto itself. Even if the recipes do not charm, the character herself is sure to win over critics.
August 9, 2016
I continue to enjoy this series. I went back and re-read it because I enjoyed this one so much, especially the last couple of chapters after the mystery is solved.
Once again Della gets involved in a murder. This time she's called in by Phil, the head of publicity for the channel her cooking show is on, as a replacement judge for a celebrity cook off. Only to discover that one of the other judges has just dumped Eileen, the woman she loves like a daughter, and is now threatening her reputation. But they are far from the only people mad at him, and one apparently decides to take it to the ultimate extreme when he's murdered. Unfortunately he dies not long after Eileen's dad pops him one for threatening his daughter, making him prime suspect #1.
Once again Della gets involved in a murder. This time she's called in by Phil, the head of publicity for the channel her cooking show is on, as a replacement judge for a celebrity cook off. Only to discover that one of the other judges has just dumped Eileen, the woman she loves like a daughter, and is now threatening her reputation. But they are far from the only people mad at him, and one apparently decides to take it to the ultimate extreme when he's murdered. Unfortunately he dies not long after Eileen's dad pops him one for threatening his daughter, making him prime suspect #1.
June 10, 2013
3.5 stars
I enjoy the Della Carmichael series and this was no exception. They are fun cozy mysteries with a protagonist in her 40′s and recipes included in the back. This one even contained a little story about the actress Linda Dano (and a recipe) who I watched back in the day on Another World. I didn’t guess the killer, although I had my suspicions, until it was revealed, so that’s a big plus. And there was a fight with her boyfriend Nicholas and I enjoyed the progression of their relationship.
there's more on my blog http://stacybuckeye.wordpress.com/201...
I enjoy the Della Carmichael series and this was no exception. They are fun cozy mysteries with a protagonist in her 40′s and recipes included in the back. This one even contained a little story about the actress Linda Dano (and a recipe) who I watched back in the day on Another World. I didn’t guess the killer, although I had my suspicions, until it was revealed, so that’s a big plus. And there was a fight with her boyfriend Nicholas and I enjoyed the progression of their relationship.
there's more on my blog http://stacybuckeye.wordpress.com/201...
September 5, 2013
I love the Della Charmichael!! A 40 something host of cable cooking show Della Cooks. In this junior installment to the series Della finds herself judging a cooking contest of celebrity chefs..one of who winds up murdered.
What I liked about this particular book was Della talking about how she came to open her cooking school..and what events lead her to that decision. We also get to 'see' her in action at the school making some very yummy recipes..
I'm very much looking forward to the next book in this series, I cannot wait to see what is on the horizons for our protagonist Della and our hunky reporter Nick!
What I liked about this particular book was Della talking about how she came to open her cooking school..and what events lead her to that decision. We also get to 'see' her in action at the school making some very yummy recipes..
I'm very much looking forward to the next book in this series, I cannot wait to see what is on the horizons for our protagonist Della and our hunky reporter Nick!
April 4, 2010
Another great book in this series! In this one, Della is asked by her publicist to help judge a celebrity cooking competition. Della feels uncomfortable having to be a judge when she's used to being the one who cooks, but she agrees. On a personal front, Della is upset because she hears rumors about the man that her "daughter" is dating. When someone turns up dead, Della has to figure out who did it before one of her friends ends up being arrested for the crime. She is prepared to go to great lengths to protect those she loves, she might even be tempted to commit a crime herself.
June 22, 2012
Cooking show host Della is asked to fill in as a judge at a celebrity cook-off for charity. She's reluctant to deal with one of the other judges, a food columnist who is blackmailing Della's spiritual daughter and business partner Eileen. When someone is murdered (no spoilers here!), someone Della is fond of becomes the target for a sloppy police detective. Della feels forced to investigate herself, although her conclusions seem a little far-fetched. But how many murderers do most of us know?
June 30, 2011
For the record - I like the soap opera series this author wrote MUCH better. But this wasn't a bad story. I guessed the murderer right away, but there were some twists and turns I didn't see coming so the ending wasn't ruined for me. It continues to be a reliable series, although not a top-ten. The characters feel pale to me - neither offensive or gripping. But I'll keep on reading as it's interesting enough to keep my attention.
August 20, 2011
It's never good to start with the third book in a series, but I will go back and read the first two! Della is great as a character - a strong female protagonist. The story line is strong, the writing style moves quickly and it all comes together at the end - well most of it does anyway (I still have a few questions about Tina, but not necessarily key to the mystery) Oh, yeah, and
Tuffy is cool - I understand why he might get all of Della's fan mail.
Tuffy is cool - I understand why he might get all of Della's fan mail.
November 6, 2012
Another fun, delicious and suspenseful read! I am enjoying these stories and looking forward to more. The characters are likeable and interesting. Melinda Wells has created a series worth reading and a main heroine whose life you care about. I also like that it is set in Los Angeles which is a city that I am familiar with. So if you want a light and entertaining cozy mystery with recipes included these are definitely a good choice.
October 5, 2012
The mystery was cliche, although not easy to guess. I would have enjoyed this more if the recipes were vegetarian. I liked that she made me feel pet-owners guilt, and quite often I got up from my seat to walk my standard poodle. I will have to read another in the series before I decide I like this book.
October 1, 2010
I did enjoy this book. The characters are becoming more fully rounded and I am truly caring about them. The mystery was well-formed and the victim deserved it, but I was surprised at the motive in the end.
The recipes are wonderful.
I look forward to the next book!
The recipes are wonderful.
I look forward to the next book!
November 16, 2010
I enjoy this series. Della and her group of friends are fun to hang with and the food sounds good without being too hard to prepare. The mystery wasn't too hard to figure, but the characters really make it worth the while.
March 15, 2010
It took me a while to get into this book, I couldn't remember the series until Nichols appeared. Very nice...can't wait for the next.
June 12, 2010
If you like a quick mystery with love, animals and food this will be an enjoyable read. Love it!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 18, 2010
The writing was so pedestrian I closed the book even before anyone died.
November 8, 2010
I like this series. It's a cozy and very entertaining.
November 25, 2010
A wonderful read !Relaxing and entertaining!
August 25, 2011
enjoyable just like the previous ones in this series. I like Della's character and find her very easy to relate to in many ways.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews