Review: Bedeviled Eggs

Bedeviled Eggs (Cackleberry Club - Book 3) by Laura Childs

Publication Date: December 2010
Publisher: Penguin Group
Genre: Cozy Mystery
ISBN-13: 9780425238233
ISBN: 0425238237

(Received for review from the author)

Purchase: Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, Borders, IndieBound

If you live in Morehead, KY or the surrounding area:

Purchase from our local independent bookseller: CoffeeTree Books
Borrow from our local library: The Rowan County Public Library

Author's Website: www.laurachilds.com
Excerpt: Click HERE!
Other Books in the Series: Eggs in Purgatory, Eggs Benedict Arnold

Synopsis (Publishers Weekly):

Two murders distract Suzanne Dietz and her best friends and business partners, Toni and Petra, just as they're gearing up for a big Halloween bash in Childs's diverting third Cackleberry Club cozy (after 2009's Eggs Benedict Arnold). First, someone shoots an arrow right between the eyes of mayoral candidate Chuck Peebler while he's talking to Suzanne in the backyard of the egg-themed Cackleberry Club Cafe, which now includes a book nook and knitting nest. As if that isn't enough to get Sheriff Roy Doogie of the Midwestern town of Kindred scrambling for clues, Suzanne discovers Deputy Wibur Halpern shot in the back of in the head in the nearby woods. When the feisty widow, who cooks up leads for Doogie to follow, receives threats to back off her amateur sleuthing, Kindred's newest medico, Sam Hazelet, becomes her front-and-center protector. Along with toothsome recipes, Childs dishes up plenty of small town charm.

Thoughts:

The women of the Cackleberry Club Cafe are at it again! Bedeviled Eggs is the third book in Laura Childs great cozy mystery series. We've been doing a lot to talking around here about cozy mysteries lately and have even created a 2011 Cozy Mystery Reading Challenge (see the sidebar to sign-up). This series would be a great one to get you started. My first cozy was one from one of Laura's other cozy mystery series' called, The Tea Shop Mysteries.
Bedeviled Eggs takes place in the small Midwestern town on Kindred. Suzanne Dietz and her two friends Toni and Petra started the Cackleberry Club Cafe after the death of Suzanne's husband. Despite the bad economy, the Cackleberry Club thrived. With great food and a great atmosphere, the people of Kindred just couldn't stay away, especially now that they've added the new book nook and knitting nest to attract more locals.

When Suzanne dreams up a "dating event" the town is buzzing. But an angry discussion between Petra's friend Jane and mayoral candidate Chuck Peebles gets everyone upset. When Chuck is shot dead with a crossbow arrow in the backyard while talking to Suzanne, Jane becomes the prime suspect. It's up to Suzanne and the gals from the Cackleberry Club Cafe to prove her innocence. Another body turns up on the town's Quilt Trail and Suzanne keeps finding new leads for the Sheriff. When she is threatened to back off, that doesn't stop Suzanne.

This is a great addition to the Cackleberry Club series. Laura Childs knows how to create great suspense while still giving us a home town atmosphere. Suzanne is such a great character. Her cooking and her amateur sleuthing remind me of what I would expect from a grown up Nancy Drew or Trixie Beldon. She's strong and confident and knows how to cook up a bunch of clues.

Cozy mysteries have definitely become some of my favorite reads of late, and Bedeviled Eggs is no exception. Child's takes her love of cooking and turns it into a great mystery series. The supporting cast and townspeople of Kindred are also well fleshed out characters that will give the reader a sense of belonging. They will come to know the people of the town and wonder what's going to happen next. With a unique blend of suspense and humor the Cackleberry Club mysteries will appeal to a wide range of readers. It might be Halloween themed, but that it's still a great read for the season. Fast-paced and full of fun.

Bedeviled Eggs is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag! Wish I could add it to my challenge, but that doesn't start to Jan. 1 (sigh).