Marfa Shadows: A Chef Brett Mystery

Brett Baldwin Mystery #1

by John DeMers

Brett Baldwin is a Texas chef who keeps his life, his emotions, and especially his restaurant, Mesquite, under careful control. But when Meridyth Morgan, a Hollywood star and Brett's high school love interest, shows up in Marfa, Texas, and begs him to help find her missing brother and is then kidnapped herself, Brett soon finds himself in a world of drug smuggling, human trafficking, corruption, extortion, and murder. With support from his best friend Jud Garcia, an orphaned Native American who raises bison and enjoys smoking illegal substances, Brett embarks on a dangerous journey to reunite with Meridyth and must confront some unfinished childhood business that, no matter how famous he became as a chef, had kept him from truly becoming a man.

Genres: Mystery

232 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

John DeMers was born in New Orleans and has spent the past 30 years traveling in the Caribbean, feeling a certain kinship between his hometown and the Afro-French-Spanish world he has claimed as his spiritual home. His 37 published books include titles such as Caribbean Cooking, The Food of Jamaica and Caribbean Desserts. Together John and Dominique Macquet are the authors of the nationally successful Dominique's Fresh Flavors. For several years, John DeMers served as editor of Texas Foodlover magazine. Today he lives in Houston and concentrates on his weekly food and wine radio show, Delicious Mischief. A longtime reporter and editor for United Press International, John has written from 136 foreign countries.

Series:
* Brett Baldwin Mystery

Reviews

[Liz · Rating 1 out of 5]

Chef Brett wants you to know he's cool with all the different kinds of brown people they have in West Texas now. He drives his Jeep Cherokee right into the middle of the war on drugs with his bulletproof Native American bestie and gets with the prettiest girl from high school.

[Pat Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little far fetched but tasty nonetheless!

As with so much fiction these days, this one is more than a bit far fetched story wise. Why must every plot swerve and veer this way and that with links and twists and, let's not forget the beautiful woman from the past. Although well written, with wonderful texture and feel for Texas, Brett is a chef, not James Bond! There is plenty of action, lots of bullets, and scores of bodies. A trusty sidekick and crooked cops round out the usual formula. Other than the usual heroics, this story could come from the evening news. Also some pretty tasty sounding food, too. Three stars. Don't know if I'll continue with the series. So many books, so little time!

[Jayne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Marfa Shadows: a Chef Brett Mystery by John Demers. More action than mystery, and little about the food except the odd musing on the seafood special du jour. The voice was good, reminiscent of Bob Morris's earlier Zack Chasteen.novels, but set in dry West Texas instead of Florida. Interesting look at the shifty sands between law agencies, enforcers and breakers in the border zone. It got a little over-the-top actiony towards the end, but I'd read another.

[Jill Manske · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was entertaining, but pretty light-weight. While there were a couple of surprises, it was sort of predictable. The characters were not as well-developed as they could have been and the plot was silly. I had wanted to read more local authors, but I doubt I'll read another by DeMers.

[Elaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read these two books by part time Houston and part time Marfa resident. I met him at a book signing.
I liked the second book, better. the characters were more developed and the prose moved smoother.
Fun books to read if you like mysteries set in Texas

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable escapist fiction set in far west Texas.