Monday, May 7, 2012

Review and Giveaway: A Deadly Grind

A Deadly Grind (A Vintage Kitchen Mystery - Book 1) by Victoria Hamilton

Publication Date: May 1, 2012
Publisher: Penguin USA
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Pages: Paperback, 304pp.
ISBN-13: 978-0425248010
ISBN: 0425248011

(Received for an honest review from Berkley Prime Crime)




Victoria Hamilton  on the WEB: Webpage, Blog, Facebook

Excerpt from A Deadly Grind

Synopsis:

 A Hoosier to die for?

When vintage cookware and cookbook collector Jaymie Leighton spies an original 1920s Hoosier brand kitchen cabinet at an estate auction, it’s love at first sight. Despite the protests of her sister, Rebecca, that the 19th-century yellow-brick house they share in Michigan is already too cluttered with Jaymie’s “junk”, she successfully outbids the other buyers and triumphantly takes home her Hoosier.
 
But that night on the summer porch where they’ve left the Hoosier to be cleaned up, a man is murdered, struck on the head with  the steel meat grinder that is part of the cabinet. Who is this stranger—and what was he doing on their porch? Does his death have anything to do with the Hoosier?

As the police struggle to determine the man’s identity, Jaymie can’t help doing a little digging on her own, accompanied by her three-legged Yorkie Poo, Hoppy. But in her bid to uncover the truth about the hidden secrets of the Hoosier, Jaymie may be the one who ends up going, going…gone! 

Thoughts:

Romance author Donna Lee Simpson tries her hand at cozy mysteries under the pen name Victoria Hamilton. A Deadly Grind is the first book in the new Vintage Kitchen mystery series and proves to be a very well written and entertaining book. With everything from vintage kitchen cabinetry to recipes, this book has a lot to offer the cozy fan and anyone who loves a good mystery!

When I was growing up my grandmother was always a huge collector. She had collections of many different things including vintage dishware. She also had a old style gas range and a wringer washer that I wish we had, had the forethought to keep. Victoria Hamilton's new book, A Deadly Grind, reminds me of a more nostalgic time when things were simple and our lives were less cluttered. Her writing is reminiscent of those days when my grandmother would show me different pieces in her kitchen collections. This book has a very authentic feel that readers are sure to pick up on. 

Hamilton provides readers with a great incentive in this book. The Hoosier cabinet provides a focal point for the plot and gets readers into the flow of the story. The main character Jaymie gets into a bidding war over the cabinet and finds one of the opposition who didn't win dead on her back porch in the morning. What could be so important about that cabinet? The motive obviously must have something to do with what may be inside the cabinet and Jaymie is on the case. 

I liked the way Hamilton introduces readers to story and the characters through the auction and then begins to build on that. She paints Jaymie as a collector at heart. With her "junk" practically taking over the house she shares with her sister, Rebecca. Jaymie collects cookware, cookbooks, and other cooking related things. She comes across as someone who has a great love for cooking and that makes a big difference in how this book is written. I loved the recipes provided at the end of the book. They enhance the story and give the reader a little extra bonus at the end. 

With plenty of suspects and an obvious motive, it doesn't take long for Jaymie to end up in hot water. With the help of her friends and her trusty sidekick, Hopalong. I loved the secondary characters who add a lot of comic relief to the story and move the plot forward. Hopalong was a hoot! Who would have thought of a three legged dog as a character of sorts. A nice touch!

This is book that will appeal to the collector in all of us. I think it's a good first effort and I'm looking forward to where Hamilton takes this series. The Michigan setting was well detailed and felt real. The townspeople and Jaymie's friends are the kind of characters that draw a reader back to a series. No grace was needed with this one, as Hamilton is a seasoned writer and knows the ins and outs of getting a series started without making the plot of the first book suffer. A great new series for cozy fans!

 A Deadly Grind is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag!


Victoria Hamilton is a pseudonym for national bestselling author Donna Lee Simpson, who is also a collector of vintage cookware and recipes.







GIVEAWAY DETAILS

The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway of one copy of A Deadly Grind by Victoria Hamilton.

~You must be a GFC follow or an E-mail subscriber to participate.
~U.S. addresses only.
~Deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST May 21st.

1. Please leave a comment in appreciation to the author on this post, not the form.
2.Please fill out the FORM.

26 comments:

Wendy Newcomb said...

Another great sounding cozy mystery, can hardly wait to read it.

wfnren(at)aol(dot)com

holdenj said...

I wish Victoria luck with this cozy series, it sounds great! I spent a lot of time in my grandma's friend's kitchen growing up and they had some great old appliances and a wonderful pantry! Thanks for the chance to win!
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

cyn209 said...

woohoo!! another new cozy mystery!!! congrats to Victoria!!

thank you for this giveaway!!!

AnnaZed said...

How wonderful. There's something thrilling about a story that sounds like it could happen to me! I think so anyway.

Anonymous said...

There are many new cozy series coming out lately. This is the first vintage kitchen series that I have heard of and I would love to read it. It will be interesting to see how the author defines a vintage kitchen and what direction the plots will go.

Theresa N. said...

I've added this to my reading list, I love vintage.
Theresa N
weceno(at)yahoo(dot)com

Anonymous said...

When I read about this new series I knew that I had to read it. I admit that I had not heard exactly whothe author was but that did not make any difference to me.

Can't wait to read this.

Angela - Bookaunt said...

I would love to read this cozy. I am addicted to finding new cozies to try. Thank you for the chance to win.

griperang at embarqmail dot com

Peggy Ann said...

Looks like a great series and I can get in on the beginning.

Carol M said...

This sounds like a great new series! I'm looking forward to reading it!

catslady said...

Sounds like another good one - thanks for the chance!

catslady5(at)aol.com

Mary (mkdmom) said...

I like the premise of this new cozy series...I'm a big fan of the foodie cozies and I like the idea of vintage cooking equipment and books being thrown in. Thanks for the giveaway.

Carol N Wong said...

I was born and grew up in Indiana would really, really love to have a Hooiser cabinet. I love them. My father gave me a lot of collectible pottery so besides it being a cozy, I would really love to read this one!

CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Karen B said...

This sounds like a fun new series. I remember all the "old-fashioned" appliances my greats and grands had back in the 40s - such good memories.
kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com

Linda Kish said...

I would love to win/read this book. It sounds terrific.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Kuzlin said...

Love the cover...can't wait to try this new series. Kuzlin(at)aol(dot)com

Victoria Hamilton said...

Hope everyone enjoys the book as much as I did writing it! The Hoosier cabinet on the cover is based on my own cabinet, with a few minor changes!!

Martha Lawson said...

This one sounds awesome! I can't wait to get my hands on a copy!

Carrie at In the Hammock Blog said...

love the vintage aspect and the dog on the cover is soooo cute!!

Josephine said...

Sounds like a good story, can't wait to read jplungas at gmail doc com

Dolly said...

(Waving at Carol - I'm a Hoosier too!)
This sounds like a fun read, and the vintage kitchen aspect grabs me!

bn100 said...

I enjoyed the review. Sounds like a fun read.

lag123 said...

I want to find out the secret behind the hoosier cabinet.

lag110 at mchsi dot com

mamabunny13 said...

Sounds like a great new Cozy series!

Emma said...

Thanks for the giveaway.This sounds like a great new series!

mamabunny13 said...

Love the cover. Everytime I see the look on the little dogs face I crack up. I can't wait to read this cozy!