A Crust to Die For

January 1, 2023
Septuagenarian Magdalena Yoder Rosen, mayor of Hernia, Pennsylvania, and owner of the PennDutch Inn, is hosting three candidates at the inn who hope to partner with a local Amish business, Schmucker Brothers Sausages; the three brothers make sausages so special they fly off the local shelves. Unfortunately, one of the candidates is found dead at the inn--not the first time a guest has been murdered there. Magdalena, who has her PI license and has assisted the police in the past, works with local police chief Toy Graham to find the culprit. After Magdalena puts the pieces together, she goes alone to confront the killer, with predictably bad results, at least in the short term. Magdalena is a hoot, speaking directly to the reader in a voice laden with acerbic, often self-deprecating, humor. The narrative is framed by details of Mennonite and Amish life and by Magdalena's efforts to be a good Christian, which lead to multiple lapses, including her propensity for reading steamy romances, always justified in humorous asides.

COPYRIGHT(2023) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

November 1, 2023
Food blogger Tiffany Austin has a knack for amateur sleuthing, particularly when it comes to solving murder cases. Much to the chagrin of her main squeeze, Detective Philip Bartell, Tiffany often finds the perp before the police do. So when famous food critic Bartholomew Driscoll is found stabbed to death during a local pizza-baking contest, and Arleen Hanson, the sister of Tiffany's best friend, is accused of the crime based solely on circumstantial evidence, Tiffany is determined to clear Arleen's name and find the real killer. When another murder occurs and Tiffany receives a threatening note telling her to back off, she's undeterred. With her keen investigating skills and well-honed intuition, Tiffany soon uncovers shocking secrets linked to Driscoll's checkered past, but when she confronts his murderer, it takes all her courage and ingenuity to keep from becoming yet another victim. Another winning entry in LoTempio's entertaining, food-focused murder mystery series (after Eat, Drink and Drop Dead, 2023) featuring a plucky, likable heroine, plenty of suspense, unexpected twists, and mouthwatering culinary tips and recipes.

COPYRIGHT(2023) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

November 6, 2023
In LoTempio’s tepid second cozy featuring Austin (after Eat, Drink and Drop Dead), the former chef turned restaurant critic has her hands full organizing the Bon-Appetempting Pizza Bake-Off in her hometown of Branson, Ga. Shortly before the amateur chefs can start rolling out their dough, one of the contest’s celebrity judges bows out. After some scrambling, he’s replaced by Bartholomew Driscoll, a local restaurateur and food critic who’s become famous after appearing on several reality TV shows. He’s also a suave ladies’ man with a grudge against Tiffany for a bad review she gave one of his restaurants. Before the first pizza is out of the oven, Driscoll has already exchanged tense words with some of the contestants. A short time later, he disappears. Tiffany goes looking for him and finds his body in the competition’s kitchen with a chef’s knife sticking out of his throat. After Tiffany’s love interest, Detective Philip Bartell, arrives on the scene and acknowledges that Tiffany is indeed a “murder magnet,” she teams up with her best friend, Hilary, to suss out the culprit. LoTempio paints by numbers here, offering little wit or panache to elevate this above standard cozy fare. In a crowded field, this fails to stand out.

November 1, 2023
A food critic isn't even the prime suspect when an obstreperous restaurateur is killed during a pizza bake-off. Moving from temporary to full-time writer on Southern Style magazine has its perks for food critic and blogger Tiffany Austin. For example, her idea of organizing the Bon-Appetempting Pizza Bake-Off, the first pizza contest in Branson, Georgia, has been heralded with great fanfare. And her best friend Hilary Hanson's sister, Arleen, has reached the semifinals, exciting Tiffany and redoubling her commitment to the event's success. When gallstones force fellow food critic Pierre Dumont to withdraw from his judging duties, Tiffany is dismayed to hear that he's being replaced by none other than Bartholomew Driscoll. Not only does Driscoll have a notoriously short temper, but Tiffany recently panned his restaurant, Ambrosia, and he didn't take the news well. At the contest, the two are at odds almost immediately, with Driscoll working his usual routine of baiting Tiffany into arguments she's determined not to fall for. But Tiffany may not be the only one who has an issue with Driscoll, she learns, and when he's killed midway through the contest, possible suspects range far and wide. Tiffany has a bit of an in with the investigation through her rather personal connection to Det. Philip Bartell, so she's ready to leap into action when suspicion seems to be settling on Arleen. There should be something more to warrant this series' second helping.

COPYRIGHT(2023) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.