by Cynthia Chow & Sandra Murphy

As it heads toward the end of summer here are a few more fun cozies to enjoy before the weather turns cold-A Poisonous Palate: A Key West Food Critic Mystery by Lucy Burdette, Charlotte Illes is Not a Teacher by Katie Siegel, and A Collection of Lies by Connie Berry. Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win a copy of all 3 books and links to purchase them from Amazon at the end of each review.

A Poisonous Palate: A Key West Food Critic Mystery by Lucy Burdette
Review by Cynthia Chow

Newly married and living with her husband on a houseboat in Key West, food critic Hayley Snow has been involved in a multitude of murders and criminal investigations. So it’s surprising that it’s taken this long for her to be approached by someone else wanting her to consult on their own mystery. Catherine Davitt is returning to Key West to research Ernest Hemingway for a book she is writing on his toxic relationships, but she wants Hayley’s help in solving the mystery of a friend who went missing in 1978. Veronica was one of a group of twentysomethings camping out together in Big Pine Key, and after she suddenly disappears Catherine is the only one to report her as missing. Considering the intertwined romantic relationships and drug use due to the “square groupers” of marijuana bales that washed up on shore, the police were less than diligent in investigating the case. While the private detective Catherine hired found nothing concrete, her suspicions are bolstered when she and Hayley discover the body of one of those same fellow campers before they can question him. Ned was a four-time married owner of a decrepit motel whose failed relationships mirror those of Hemingway, the famous and infamous author of the short story collection, Men without Women.

While the responding police very assertively discourage Hayley from once again investigating, she and her best friend/houseboat neighbor Miss Gloria can’t help but be drawn into the case. Hayley isn’t entirely sure that the rather unlikable Catherine didn’t have a part in Ned’s murder, and may even have been jealous enough to take out her still-missing friend. Hayley’s Key West detective husband provides sound counsel and a ton of emotional support, while her other friends do the same, all the while sharing meals she plans to review for her Key Zest magazine articles. So when not tasting delicious Floridian meals, Hayley and Gloria track down the remaining campers who have still remained in the Keys. A still-handsome veterinarian, a waitress, Ned’s many exes, and even Catherine “Kit-Kat” herself all become suspects in literally stabbing the motel owner dead.

This 14th in the series shines a light on Ernest Hemingway and his fascinating and very complicated relationships with the women in his life. Hayley herself has managed to escape the cycle of toxic love relationships, but she recognizes how many of those around her may have fallen into their traps. Fans of the series will enjoy not only the scenic tour through Key West and its cuisines, but also be entertained by the reappearances of Hayley’s close circle of friends. Hayley’s matured throughout the series, and seeing her close relationship with her husband has proven to be ever so rewarding. Chapter-heading quotes from famous food critics and writers add color to the novel, as do excerpts from Catherine’s 1978 diary.

The fast pace and surprising conclusion will satisfy mystery readers, while foodies will appreciate recipes and delicious descriptions of Hayley’s meals. This is another fun novel written by an always reliable and creative author.

You can click here to purchase the book from Amazon.

Charlotte Illes is Not a Teacher by Katie Siegel
Review by Cynthia Chow

Even though she’s finally agreed to do unpaid minor investigations for friends and family, 25-year-old Charlotte Illes is still adjusting to life as a former famous kid detective. She no longer wants to allow that identity to consume her entire sense of self, but she also hasn’t exactly decided on just what she wants to do with her life. That explains how the ex-mini-Sherlock is convinced by her childhood best friend to become a substitute teacher, as Lucy Ortega loves being a language arts teacher at the same middle school they once attended together. Charlotte never expected that she would return 13 years later to the place where she was infamous for crawling through ventilation ducts to eavesdrop and solve the mysteries of who ate which teacher’s lunch. While the Frencham Middle School secretary who used to conveniently look away every time Lottie used to ask for office keys has long retired, the same Vice President who issued warning memos regarding the former tween still presides.

What has changed are the students themselves, as they are openly queer and seem to embrace an acceptance of themselves that Charlotte and her two besties can only envy. Charlotte doesn’t discourage the middle schoolers who join her for lunch periods from discovering the many detective kits she hid around the campus, but it’s she who learns from them about how to track down clues through their social media posts and followings. That comes in handy when Charlotte is drawn into a case involving Lucy’s fellow teacher Kim Romano, who is being blackmailed regarding her former job and whose aunt is threatened to drop out of the Board of Education presidency election. After Kim’s bake sale brownies inadvertently cause an allergic reaction despite her declarations that they were nut free, Charlotte is drawn into the case to discover who is threatening the middle school teacher’s chance at tenure and her aunt’s school board presidency.

This second in the series is an absolute romp that plays tribute to the very teachers who may have inspired the love of reading. Also remarkable is that Charlotte and her friends discover that in the 13 years since they left, so much has changed for the students…and mostly for the better. Charlotte, along with her childhood friends Gabe and Lucy, have a bond that has them making good-natured jokes that are based on their longtime knowledge and love for one another.

As fascinating as Charlotte’s actual investigations are for her, she is also troubled by her confining identity as a former kid detective. As much as she feels trapped and boxed in by her past, Charlotte also has to admit how good she is as an investigator and that she doesn’t need to completely reject her past. Lucy as well has the very relatable challenge of learning to not always need others’ approval, while Gabe learns to not allow past rejections to prevent him from making future connections. These Gen Z’s may be more accepting of their own queerness, but they are still struggling to find their own passions and choice of careers. This trio is absolutely hilarious as they manage to finagle one another into their individual dilemmas, be it Gabe forcing them to take videos chewing disgusting “shareable” gum, Lucy learning to stop being too polite to a clingy ex, or Charlotte when again crawling through vents to eavesdrop on teachers. This is a modern-day mystery for readers who always dreamed of seeing their favorite childhood detectives all grown up and dealing with real-life issues.

Cynthia Chow is the branch manager of Kaneohe Public Library on the island of Oahu. She balances a librarian lifestyle of cardigans and hair buns with a passion for motorcycle riding and regrettable tattoos (sorry, Mom).

A Collection of Lies by Connie Berry
By Sandra Murphy

Tom, a detective inspector in the Suffolk Constabulary, and Kate, an antiques dealer and appraiser from the United States, became acquainted during a murder investigation, an unusual way to meet what would become a significant other. They’ve worked out the details of spending their lives together and are now on their honeymoon in Devon, England.

They’ve taken on an investigative job for the Museum of Devon Life to verify the ownership of a dress. The dress is thought to belong to Nancy Thorne, a 30-year-old lacemaker, who arrived home one night, covered in blood. She claimed to have no memory of what had happened. No one was found to have been injured or killed, no one was missing. The mystery became a legend, unsolved.

The museum, though small, looks at the dress as a way to put them on the level of the larger institutions in terms of fame and reputation. However, the provenance of the dress is as murky as that of its ownership.

A local man, Gideon Littlejohn, says the bloodied dress was part of an auction lot he bought. Most of the pieces were junk but he bought it for a particular piece and found the dress as a bonus. Gideon is restoring his home to its original state – minus modern conveniences. The mixed lot contained one piece he wanted. The dress was a surprise – but was it?

A murder splits the couple’s attention – Kate’s on the dress and its history, Tom’s in helping the local police with the murder. Surely the two are connected. Tom and Kate are a great match. Although she’s given up her life in the States to be with him, she feels it’s well worth the tradeoff. Tom is considering retirement with a job in a security firm to follow so their lives together could be changing once again.

The mysteries are complex with clues deftly woven into the story. What happened to Gideon, what happened to the owner of the dress, and is it authentic?

Berry also handles description with a light hand while giving enough details to make readers feel the peat squish underfoot, smell the food on the plate, and enjoy travels from town to town in search of the truth. The tale is rich with the history of the area without intruding on the story. To do so much research and refrain from putting it all on the page is the sign of a very good writer.

You’ll enjoy England, any time of the year. Previous titles include The Art of Betrayal, A Legacy of Murder, A Dream of Death, and The Shadow of Memory. Read them all.

You can click here to purchase this book from Amazon.

To enter to win a copy of all 3 books, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “end of summer” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen August 31, 2024. U.S. residents only, and you must be 18 or older to enter. If entering via email please include your mailing address in case you win. You can read our privacy statement here if you like.

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Sandra Murphy lives in the shadow of the Arch in St. Louis Missouri. She’s the editor for the upcoming Yeet Me in St Louis, an anthology with stories from twelve St. Louis writers. Her own short stories have appeared in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, Mystery Magazine, and anthologies such as The Perp Wore Pumpkin and I (Almost) Died in Your Arms. ‘Lucy’s Tree’, published in The Eyes of Texas, won a Derringer Award from the Short Mystery Fiction Society. She lives in St. Louis with Ozzie the Westie Impersonator and his sidekick in crime, Louie the Cat.

Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.