The Missing Ingredient

Mystery and the Minister's Wife #10

by Diane Noble

When the Taste Network rolls into Copper Mill to film a popular cooking show, the town is in for big excitement, big personalities -- and one very big mystery! A recipe for disaster. Kate Hanlon is thrilled about reconnecting with her childhood friend, Susannah Applebaum, now the host of Great Chefs of the South . But when the network's producer mysteriously disappears, all clues point to Susannah as somehow being involved. Susannah pleads her innocence, but how well does Kate really know her friend after all this time? And just what is so special about the secret recipes that Susannah has been hiding? With so much on the line, can Kate find the missing ingredient to this mystery before it's too late?

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Christian Fiction, Fiction, Christian

230 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2010

About the author

Diane Noble is the award-winning novelist of more published books than she can count: historical fiction, contemporary mysteries and suspense, and romance (written under the pen name Amanda MacLean).

Diane writes from a heart of deep faith that's woven into her stories and nonfiction writings. She often posts on Facebook and Twitter about her journey with Parkinson's Disease and the unexpected gift of learning to live moment by moment with humor, grace, and optimism.

With more than a quarter million books in print, Diane continues to spin tales that touch readers' hearts. Book one of her new three-book mystery series, The Professor and Mrs. Littlefield, will be in bookstores September 1, 2014. It's title? THE CURIOUS CASE OF THE MISSING FIGUREHEAD.

Diane is a professed Third Order Franciscan in the Anglican (Episcopal) Church, following the footsteps of Jesus with simpicity, love, and joy as lived out by St. Francis of Assisi. Mother to two beautiful daughters and Gramsy to two cutest-ever granddaughters, Diane lives in Southern California with her wonderful husband and two spoiled cats. Oh yes, and Diane loves

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Tv network is bringing their cooking shows to town, one is an old friend of Kate’s. The unpopular producer disappears and her friend is blamed. While all this is going on the hotel the TV people are staying at, which is reported to be haunted, starts showing signs of a ghost. This is hurting the hotels business and dividing the town between those that believe in ghosts and those who don’t. Kate’s friend is accused of stealing the recipes in her new book and she is accusing another host of the same thing. Kate sets out to find the beginnings of the ghost rumour and clear her friend.

[Paula Shreckhise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kate Hanlon is a minister’s wife who just can’t keep from snooping when there is a mystery around.
The town is all excited when a food show wants to film in the local hotel/ destination venue. To make it more interesting, Susannah Applebaum, a childhood friend of Kate’s is one of the Celebrity Chefs. The hotel has a legend attached to it. A ghost is said to haunt it. The library has a guest author set to visit and promote his book on haunted places. This has parishioners questioning the local clergy. Then mysteriously, the producer/director of the food show goes missing. And other strange things happen.
The writing is good and the conversations are natural and even funny at times.
I have reservations about the explanation by a minister of whether ghosts are real or not. I feel it could have been shown by using scripture to make clear what the biblical stand is on ghosts. Instead, he talked about how we should accept each other even in our differences. I feel he should taken made a more solid on the issue, considering this is supposed to be a Christian book.

[Penni]

Part of a series- Mystery and the Minister's Wife

[PottWab Regional Library]

SM

[Peggy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book grabbed my attention because of the cooking show mystery involved. i enjoyed it as a quick, easy reading book. they plot was interesting, and it was a quick read. i did find some continuity errors, but overall it was a pleasant book. it's not one I would read again, but I did enjoy this one, and I will look for more by this author, as well as more from this series.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

I never imagined myself reading a mystery book and at the same time pass through biblical passages. I just didn't think it was possible to mix spirituality and religion. Nonetheless, the book was a good and fast read. It's quite a breather for daily adversities.

[Guitargirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED it! great read, looking for a good book, I think I found one!

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was very good.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

#10 in the guidepost mystery and the ministers' wife series

[Lavender · Rating 4 out of 5]

i enjoyed this book in the series. I actually found the ghost parts a little goose-bumpy especially at bedtime.

[R.J. Kottke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun read