Chili con Corpses

A Supper Club Mystery #3

by Ellery Adams

Things are chugging merrily along for librarian James Henry. He has a closet filled with new clothes, a trimmer waistline, and a closer bond with his father. His only real problem is that his girlfriend Lucy's interest in him seems to have inexplicably cooled. When schoolteacher Lindy suggests the club members join a Mexican cooking class, James jumps at the idea. Over cervezas and black bean dip, the supper club members warm to their new adventure. The class heats up even more when a reporter and her friends, twin sisters with supermodel physiques, enroll. But when people start turning up dead, and the evidence points toward Lindy, things become hotter than a jalapeno. James, who was looking to add a little more spice to his life, gets much more than he bargained for.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Cozy, Audiobook, Romance, Food

275 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 8, 2008

About the author

USA Today and New York Times bestseller author Ellery Adams has written over forty novels and can’t imagine spending a day away from the keyboard. Ms. Adams, a Native New Yorker, has had a lifelong love affair with stories, food, and rescue animals. She likes to spend her free time rearranging the bookshelves in her home in central North Carolina.

Ellery's Series Include: Secret, Book, & Scone Society (Kensington) Book Retreat Mysteries (Kensington) Books By the Bay Mysteries (Berkley Prime Crime), Charmed Pie Shoppe Mysteries ((Berkley Prime Crime), Molly Appleby Antiques & Collectibles Mysteries (Beyond the Page), and Hope Street Mysteries (Beyond the Page).

Ellery also writes genre-blending fiction focusing on women and their inner monsters. Her first release in this exciting new direction is Invasive Species, which hits the shelves 4/14/206.

For book club guides, bibliotherapy lists, and recipes, please visit www.elleryadamsbooks.com

Reviews

[Tari · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this installment, our Flab Five friends have decided to take a cooking class one day a week as their break from all the constant dieting they'd been doing. Lucy was working hard to pass the last leg of the deputy's exam which caused a big change in James and Lucy's relationship. He found himself drawn to Murphy Alistair, the newspaper editor who in the past hadn't been a very nice person to them but in this book, she sort of became the 6th person in their supper club. When one of the teachers at Lindy's school was murdered during a cave field trip, the state police were called in but the friends decided to do what they did best together, figure out who the killer was. I loved how they set up a sting operation at the end. I had suspected the person who ended up as the killer but didn't know the reason till the clues all were revealed and fell into place.

Since meeting Milla, who ran the cooking class, James thought bringing her around to meet his dad would be a good idea and it was. Jackson seemed to enjoy how she liked spoiling him with her cooking and he seemed a little less reclusive. I really like Milla and since I read ahead a few books a few months ago, I am happy about what happens eventually. I got a kick out of Bennett's New Year's resolution to try out for Jeopardy, he definitely knows a lot of trivia.

What made this seem so realistic was Lucy sort of pulling away from everyone for awhile to devote time to working out and passing the deputy exam. In real life, friend groups always experience that. They have their ups and downs. I like how all these people are always willing to accept the strayed friend back or welcome new friends. Murphy was just seeming too good to be true so it'll be interesting to see what happens next. She was very useful in helping to solve this mystery though. Relationships are never perfect so I think it's pretty true to life how she and James' relationship tends to fade.

On to book four now!

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series always makes me chuckle. This one was my least favorite. I had mixed feelings about some of the topics/situations. It's hard to describe without giving spoilers. It was still enjoyable and an interesting read. I'm curious to see where the next in the series takes me.

[Micky Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Flab 5 have hit a wall and are sick of dieting although their bodies are showing great improvement, but that isn't all that has hit the wall as the Flab 5 may be headed towards implosion as Lucy decides to move on to greener pastures leaving the group and especially James behind. However, when a murder happens and the 4 remaining members of the supper club start to investigate things heat up even more as they need to find the killer before someone else dies and James finds himself caught between 2 women! Great characters, fun plot and interesting mystery. Definitely worth a listen!

[Icy-Cobwebs-Crossing-SpaceTime · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review: CHILI CON CORPSES (SUPPER CLUB MYSTERY #3) by Ellery Adams

I just can't praise this series, or author Ellery Adams, highly enough. Truly delightful, even literary, this series entertains with taut, tightly-knitted, plots, mysteries to be solved, justice to bring, but also good deep characterization, heartwarming friendships, family tensions, new hope and second chances, missed opportunities recovered or replaced. This time, a newcomer to little Quincy' s Gap, Virginia brings cuisine classes, and offers hope and inspiration to James Henry's widowed father Jackson. Of course, no Supper Club Mystery novel is complete without a mystery, and this one seems nearly inexplicable to the Flab Five.

[Katie Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

There was a lot of character development in this book that I enjoyed, and it was also fun to "visit" Luray Caverns, since I actually have been there. I was also invested in James's romantic life, and I'm pleased with the turn it has taken even if I don't think it will last long. The mystery, which involves an impostor field trip chaperone was also very appealing and different from the others of the series.

[Deedee · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't like the jokes in the first 40 pages or so that I read. The jokes laughed at overweight people (not with). Additionally, the women are all judged on their appearance. The beauty ideal is tall, skinny, blonde. Maybe I didn't "get" the jokes the way the author intended them. Whatever. For me, this is a 1 star read.

[Shauna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another great visit with James and the Flab Five. I really enjoyed reading this one and seeing James become more confident in himself as changes occur in his personal life. JB Stanley does an excellent job and I look forward to the next one.

[Andrea Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exactly as a cozy mystery should be. Interesting puzzle, intriguing characters, intelligent plot. Also I was so pleased that nerdy James got a little action although I don't expect that relationship to last. This was definitely OF, not my usual sizzling fare but I enjoyed the change.

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Flab Five seem to have taken a hiatus when it comes to dieting, all except Lucy who is working hard to be able to pass her physical to become a detective. James is feeling hard done by as Lucy seems to be spending more time with the hunky younger man she is working out with. She also seems to have ditched the rest of the group as well. The Flab Four are still fast friends and when Lindy calls for help chaperoning a high school trip, they agree to help. They were not counting on one of the chaperone's being murdered in the caves and Lindy being a suspect to a certain degree. Of course they do everything they can to help find the real killer, with Lucy's help.

I am really enjoying this series, even though it does not have the quirkiness that many come to expect in a cozy mystery. This series contains tightly-knitted plots, and realistic mysteries to be solved, but also has well developed characters, loyal and heartwarming friendships, family tensions, second chances, and missed opportunities. This story introduces some new characters that I hope will become regulars in the stories. Virginia is a wonderful cook/chef who teaches cooking classes and perhaps a romantic interest for Jackson, Henry's father. We also get to know Jackson a lot better in this story. We find out about his painting, a bit about his deceased wife and see his life become a bit more interesting. Murphy, the newspaper reporter and owner, also becomes a larger part of the story and becomes closer to James in his loss of Lucy. All in all, the new characters add to the story and the familiar ones are still there making me feel comfortable as I visit Quincy's Gap. The mystery in this story was easier to solve for the reader, but it was interesting to see the friends put the clues together and gather the evidence necessary to prove who the killer was. Another very good cozy mystery from Ellery Adams.

[Debra Jo Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun with light humor and a dash of murder is the perfect recipe for this book.

In this series, Supper Club Mysteries, a group of small town residents, with a little bit of a weight problem, decide to form a supper club to learn to eat right and get healthy. Little did they know, they would become the town sleuths as well.

In this installment of the series, the Flab Five start taking a Fix and Freeze cooking class to break up to same old meals they've been eating. There are also some new-to-town folks in the class, friends of Murphy, the reporter in town. Something, or someone, is just not right with this group. When one of the newcomers is found dead during a school field trip, schoolteacher Lindy along with the rest of the Flab Five, have a new mystery to solve.

With more drama and romances on the brink, the Flab Five may have a few things to deal with. Also, is it really possible that James's dad could really be softening? Friendships and Romance really bud in this book.

I had the audio version of this book and narrator, Karen White, does a fabulous job. I have just downloaded book 4, Stiffs and Swine.

[Jenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

i'm quickly devouring this series. it's so charming that i'm doing a "binge listen" this week at work.

I love the names of Lucy’s dogs: Bon Jovi, Bono, Benatar. Very clever detail from the writer.
I’m hoping James will find happiness w/his romantic life. He’s a nice guy you can’t help but root for.
Also, glad that Lucy has reached one of her goals.

I love the librarian twin characters. I hope they find love in a future book in the series.

Unfortunately b/c it was audio, I couldn’t copy the recipes included but it was cool that the narrator read them out loud.

And I like the way new characters are introduced in each & then some are incorporated into the community in the next book.

While I figured out some of it, I was surprised in the final confrontation.

[Angela (Kentuckybooklover) Brocato-Skaggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

James has finally lost some weight and got the girl but not for long. Lucy has been focusing all her time and attention on passing the physical test to become a policy officer for Quincy's Gap, VA. As they struggle to come together they join a Mexican cooking class with the rest of the Flab Five. Will this heat up the relationship or will another murder cool it down even more?

This has been my favorite book of the series so far but all are wonderfully good. I find all the characters so real and relatable to whatever stage you are going through in your life. We have all had those relationships we couldn't wait to get into and once we did things cooled after awhile and made us question if we were doing the right thing. James takes us through his experience and doesn't hold anything back. He reminds us that love is hard and take work on all sides involved.

The recipes shared throughout the book sound so inviting and I cannot wait to have a Mexican themed dinner one night to try them. If you love Mexican food you need to read the book for the recipes alone. I found my mouth watering more than once. he recipes are for all levels off cooks from no experience to experienced.

Grab a margarita and pop open the book and enjoy!

[Kellene · Rating 3 out of 5]

This crowd annoys me a little less each book, so that's a good thing. There was less diet discussion in this one, also a good thing. And I was seriously craving Mexican food by half-way through. This was an enjoyable read, and the mystery had more twists and turns than usual, which kept me guessing throughout. Also, it was great to see relationships developing and characters growing in some new directions.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. I can't decide if I like the reporter with the Professor or not, but the murder was keeping me guessing longer than it normally would because of a couple characters coming and going, but can't wait for next one

[Sheila Burke · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was good. This was the first book from this author that I've read. I found it creative, and entertaining. It kept my attention and was hard to put down. Better than expected, and worth the time to read.

[Carolyn Manlove · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed the book once I got into it. I admire how the mystery is solved.

[Stormi (StormReads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

James and the Flab Five gang are back in another food filled mystery!

As with most diets the Flab Five are having some problems just eating the same boring things so Lindy proposes that they join a Mexican cooking class and that it be their cheat day. Things were fine until Murphy joins with her  friends, who are very pretty twins. Lindy knows them and is hot under the collar as one is working at the school and she thinks she is after Lindy's dream man who is the principal of the school.

When Lindy needs help with a field trip she has for some of the Flab Five to help and a few volunteer. James starts to notice that it seems that Lucy is always to busy for everything. He thought maybe it was just him that she was backing off from but she is not showing up to help any of her friends either. Turns out that she is really concentrating on getting trim so she can be a cop, she is going to be taking the exam. Though that might not be the only thing going on.

While at the caves one of the twins ends up murdered and since Lindy had been pretty vocal about not liking the woman she is a suspect. So the Flab Five must figure out what happened and there seems to be a few suspects to weed out.

Some things happen to James in the romance department in this one and I am not sure how I feel about it. Don't want to spoil so I won't say anything. :)

I am still enjoying this series and all though there were some things that James did in this one that made me kind of mad I still like him. I am excited for how things are going for Lucy in regards to her trying to get on the force. The others in the gang are just as enjoyable. I think this one really made me want to eat Mexican as it mentions lots of recipes throughout it and they sounded really good.

It has a really great mystery and though I had some ideas I wasn't sure how it was going to all go down and what the author had planned so it was done really well.

[Tanvi Jagtap · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I picked this book up on a whim and I’m not familiar with the first two books in the series.

With that being said…… this book leaves MUCH to be desired in every single way. Flat, pick-me female characters, lackluster romance, an underwhelming and irritating at times main character, a long, cheesy holiday interlude with zero plot progress in the middle of a mystery novel, typical 2000s sexism/misogyny from both male and female characters, and a predictable and uninspired resolution to the murder.

2 stars because if you read this book for the recipes and the recipes alone, you’ll be middlingly satisfied.

[Bev · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chili Con Corpses is the third installment in J. B. Stanley's cozy mystery series which features the "Flab Five"--a group of friends who create a supper club and support group, particularly when most of the members decide they need to find a way to balance their interest in food with a need to eat wisely and get fit. Her characters include James , a librarian knows as "The Professor;" the now newly svelte deputy-in-training Lucy; Bennett, a trivia buff who hopes some day to appear on Jeopardy!; Gillian, a herbalist with a New Age aura; and local high school teacher Lindy.

The group is getting pretty tired of low-carb fare and sign up for a Mexican-themed Fix 'n' Freeze cooking class taught by the charismatic Milla. Murphy Alistair, editor/reporter for the Shenandoah Star-Ledger, also joins along with two of her college friends Parker and Kinsley willis--a pair of twins who look like supermodels. Lindy is sure that Kinsley is out to snag the man she's had her eye on for some time and threatens mayhem if she does. When Parker (who everyone has mistaken for her twin) is found murdered while helping to chaperone a school field trip for Lindy's students to Luray Caverns, the police are naturally interested in the rivalry between Lindy and Kinsley. But then they realize that one of the other chaperones wasn't who he was thought to be either and more motives start popping up. James and the Flab Five decide to take matters into their own hands and flush out the killer, but will they do so without losing one of their own?

This is a fun, light-hearted cozy mystery. The plot is solid and the characters are interesting and very real. I especially like the side-story with James's father, a widower, who has lost interest in most everything until he meets Milla. It was very nice to see how he blossomed as he got to know her. And the side-stories do not detract or distract from the main mystery plot as can sometimes happen. Stanley weaves them in nicely. If you have a taste for cozy mysteries...particularly those which involve food...then this is a solid entree for your mystery menu.

First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third in a series of mysteries by this author. While each book could possibly stand alone, they are dependent upon the previous books for character development.

Chili Con Corpses continues the superficial relationships among the supper club members as they try to lose weight and solve murder mysteries. There were no murders in this town until these people got together, so it is kind of up to them to get involved in solving them! (Of course, they are not related in any way to the murderers or the victims.)

This author can tell a rousing good story that holds your attention - despite the weaknesses of poor grammar and frequent misspellings that distract me and frequently raise my blood pressure. The author is an English major who used to teach school, and each grammatical or spelling error makes me wonder what on earth she taught her students. And where was her editor? Those annoyances aside, however, I still recommend these books for general fun reading. You aren't going to learn deep philosophical truths here, but you'll have a rousing good time if you like murder mysteries.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok so when it came to this book I liked it when I started it, and that may have been a few months ago I won’t lie. Even from the start thought I had a hard time keeping who was who straight. There were a lot of characters and some had bigger parts then others but it seemed they all just kind of kept popping up once I forgot about them.

Over all I liked the plot until it kind of took a crazy turn at the end and well then I had a hard time putting it all together in the way the author had. Sure it made sense, it was explained, it was right there plain as day on my Kindle telling me who did it….I just didn’t like it. It was kind of like all the sudden it was time for the book to end so it was all wrapped up.

I also felt like there were too many story lines going on at some points.

It was a good free read, I will probaby check out some of the other books by J.B. Stanley now that I kind of understand the flow.

[Mercedes Cordero · Rating 3 out of 5]

This deserves a "fair" grade. It's mildly intriguing, written too... simply? Or plainly. Don't expect too much. The characters are confusing, too undecided for me. The mystery is ok, but too much time is spent on other things, as if, while writing, the author forgot she was supposed to be uncovering a murder.
This statement in the overview, "But when people start turning up dead, and the evidence points toward Lindy, things become hotter than a jalapeño." is not true.
There's not much to say other than that I was expecting something better. 2 1/2 stars

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book! I love James and the rest of the "Flab Five" and this book did not disappoint. I was surprised at what happened with James and Lucy, but I don't want to spoil it for you. I love this series!

[Debra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another cozy, amateur sleuth novel with an incredibly implausible set up. But, I loved the characters. And the gentle humor.

Now I need to go back and find the earlier ones - I got to this one because I was looking for books with librarian protagonists.

[Cyndee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very nice good reading. This is the second in the "Supper Club" mysteries, and the flab five are at it again. Each chapter is named after a food eaten in the chapter. I'm growing to really like these folks.

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first "Supper Club Mystery" book I've read. (My library did not have the first two available) Stanley describes the characters in a way that makes it easy for you jump in. A quick read that made me want to start/join a supper club of my own (except I call it dinner not supper!)

[~Leslie~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute, cozy mystery. This is #3 in a series. Easy to read, very light mystery. The story revolves around a group of friends who cook together and seem to stumble upon murders that need solving. The book includes the recipes that look really yummy and there is a light romance.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun mystery with an interesting group of characters.

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder mystery is okay... recipes rock.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

could not put the book down i was sad to see book end.