Monday, December 29, 2014

Review and Giveaway: Death With All The Trimmings

Death With All The Trimmings (Key West Food Critic - Book 5) by Lucy Burdette

Publication Date: 12/02/2014
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Obsidian Mystery
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Pages: 320
ISBN-10: 0451465903
ISBN-13: 978-0451465900

(Received for an honest review from Obsidian Mystery)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Indiebound, itunes

Lucy Burdette on the WEB: website, blog, twitter, facebook, goodreads

Books in the series

Key West Food Critic Mysteries 

1. An Appetite for Murder
2. Death In Four Courses
3. Topped Chef
4. Murder With Ganache
5. Death With All The Trimmings

Coverart: Click the Image for a larger, clearer view of the covers in this series.




Excerpt from, Death With All The Trimmings, courtesy of Amazon's Look Inside feature.

Synopsis:

The only snow in Key West this Christmas is Hayley Snow, food critic for Key Zest magazine, who is not getting time off for the holiday…or time off from murder. 

It may be Christmastime, but thoughts of peace on earth, good will toward men, don’t seem to extend to the restaurant biz. Hayley has been assigned to interview Edel Waugh, chef/owner of Key West’s hottest new restaurant. But off the record, Edel reveals someone’s sabotaging her kitchen and asks Hayley to investigate.

Things heat up fast when the restaurant is set on fire—and a body is discovered in the charred wreckage. Is someone out to destroy the chef’s business—or actually kill her? Amid holiday festivities like the lighted boat parade and visiting relatives who stir up mixed emotions, Hayley needs to smoke out an arsonist and a killer who may turn up the heat on her next…


Thoughts:

Lucy Burdette takes on a Christmas setting in her latest book in the Key West Food Critic mystery series, Death With All The Trimmings. Readers who like a little Christmas mixed in with their mysteries will love this one. With everything from a town wide decorating contest, to a lighted boat parade, a sabotaged restaurant and a murder, this book has it going on. Burdette uses a lot of wit and heart in her writing and readers will respond. A great addition to this unique series!

What I liked:

I'm not what you would call a beach gal. I love the mountains and snow and everything that goes with a white Christmas. But Lucy Burdette actually made me think a warm and sunny Christmas might not be so bad. Christmas in Key West isn't as wildly different as you would expect. I loved everything about it from the decorated palm trees to the town all decked out for the holidays. The lighted boat parade was also a great touch. I had never really thought about what it would be like to have Christmas where it is sunny and bright. Burdette made it seem pretty wonderful in Death With All the Trimmings.

There is a new restaurant in town and a new chef, Edel Waugh. She's a bit of a task master and that might be causing her some problems. The restaurant is under attack. Saboteurs are lurking and it's up to Hayley and her cohorts to figure out who is behind it all. And then, of course, there is a murder. Is it all related? Hayley is a good food critic, but shes a great amateur sleuth. Once again Lucy Burdette puts Hayley in hot water and lets her shine as a very well developed heroine. New characters and old favorites join making this an unforgettable addition to the series.

Not only is there mystery brewing, but Hayley's personal life is a bit mixed up as well. Her mom decides to winter in Key West, which brings up a whole new dynamic and her relationship with Wally is at a bit of a stand still. The interactions between Hayley and the rest of the characters are always so genuine. I can imagine being on my own somewhere and having a life and how that would change if my mom showed up. Could be good, could be bad! It was really interesting to explore that part of the heroine's life. This busy with Wally, seems to be just a bump in the road. His mom is sick and he doesn't have the kind of time he had before. Hopefully, it's just an adjustment they will have to make to their relationship. 

The mystery in this one was full of surprises. Did Juan's death have anything to do with what was going on at Edel's restaurant? It was a bit unpredictable and I liked that. There were tons of suspects within the restaurant and some without. The motive was unclear, but when I got to end and looked back, there were clues all along the path. Burdette did a great job keeping the reader in the dark until it was time for a big reveal.

Bottom Line:

This book was another example of Burdette's laid back Key West kind of style. She made me want to spend Christmas on the beach of all things and she had me wishing I could fix her love life. But most importantly for a good mystery she had me searching out those clues and reading way into the night trying to figure it all out. A very good book!

Death With All The Trimmings is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

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




About the Author:


Clinical psychologist Roberta Isleib, aka Lucy Burdette, has had twelve previous mysteries published, including Murder with GanacheTopped ChefDeath in Four Courses, and An Appetite for Murder in the national bestselling Key West Food Critic Mystery series. Her books and stories have been short-listed for Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity awards. 


Giveaway Details:

The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of Death With All The Trimmings by Lucy Burdette.

~ You must be an email subscriber to participate.
~ US addresses only.
~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST, January 12th.

1. Please leave a comment. Ever been to Key West? What are your thoughts about it?

2. Please fill out the FORM.

41 comments:

Unknown said...

never been to key west

skkorman said...

I grew up in Miami and have been to Key West many times; I love it; it's a laid-back place with lots of eccentric characters!

skkorman AT bellsouth DOT net

Unknown said...

I have never been to Key West.

Linda Kish said...

I have never been to Key West.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Kimberlee said...

I read one of this series previously and enjoyed it. I really need to get caught up.

Kimberlee
girllostinabook@hotmail.com
www.girllostinabook.com

traveler said...

I have never been to Key west. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

Key West seems like a interesting place to visit

Angela - Bookaunt said...

I just went to Key West for the first time this month. My husband and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary there. I thought it was an interesting place.

Dolly said...

I was only in Key West once for a few hours (cruise ship stop), and I've longed to go back again!

holdenj said...

I've never been to Key West, but from all descriptions, would love to visit someday. Thanks!

Theresa N. said...

I've never been to Key West, but it's on my list of places to visit.
Theresa N
weceno(at)yahoo(dot)com

Karen said...

Yes, I think it's one of the most unique cities in the country!

Sue Farrell said...

I'd love to go to Key West if I could ever talk my hubby into traveling. I just don't want to go during hurricane season.

Debbie K said...

I have never been to Key West, but a warm place sounds wonderful this time of year!

Karen B said...

I was in Key West with my family back in the 50s but have no memories of it!
kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com

Anonymous said...

I have never been to Key West so have don't know what it is like.
Thereadmaster@me.com

Carol N Wong said...

I have been to Key West but I would really love to go.

CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Debbie S said...

I have been to Key West for the first time about 5 years ago. I loved it, very laid back...where else will you see a dog wearing Bermuda shorts, LOL. The thing that struck me was the color, all the houses were pinks, mint green, shades of blue and flowers everywhere, absolutely beautiful. I do admit though that the heat was enough to melt you.

Debbie S said...

oops forgot my email
momzillasteel at gmail dot com

Robin Coxon said...

I've been to Florida but never to Key West. I've heard they have wonderful food opportunities there. Can't wait to have a chance to read Lucy's book.

Kim Yates said...

Never been to Key West, but want to visit someday!

lag123 said...

The last time I went was six years ago.

lag110 at mchsi dot com

Nancy said...

Never been to key west. I'm a real home body. Don't
like to travel.

Carol M said...

I've never been to Key West. We don't travel.

Martha Lawson said...

Haven't been to Key West, I'd like to go though and see if I could run into Jimmy Buffett!!!

Kimberly Sue said...

no...but it's about to be january in NW Pennsylvania...so I'm ready for Key West ANYTIME now! lol

Unknown said...

i visited once, went to hemingways house and buffets place. we stopped at a couple of keys along the way. i thought it was pretty neat.

Natasha said...

I have never been, but I would love to go there someday.
Thanks for the chance to win!

bn100 said...

never been, but sounds fun

Dotty Kelley said...

Never been there. Maybe some day.

dotkel50 at comcast dot net

cyn209 said...

no, I've never been to Key West, but it is on my Bucket List!!!!

rubynreba said...

I've never been to key west

Meg C. said...

I've never been to Key West, only heard about it. Seems like a place to maybe visit someday, but probably not gonna be at the top of my list in real life. Who knows when it comes to book life though?

robbfan141729@yahoo.com

Jeanette Green said...

I've never been to Key West.. or Florida at all. lol
But the future hubby and I have been looking at beach wedding ideas and tossing the idea around. He hasn't ever been either. We are both from up north but live down south in TN.

Unknown said...

I haven't been there yet, but it is on my bucket list. :D

Anita Yancey said...

I have never been to Key West, but I have always wanted to go. Thanks for having this giveaway.

ayancey1974(at)gmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

No, never have been to Key West. As a matter-of-fact, I've not been any farther East than Des Moines, IA. Visiting Vermont is on my bucket list!

Michelle F. said...

Never been to Florida. The furthest south I've been is to Virginia. With all this cold weather, I'd love to get out of Ohio and down to Florida, maybe Miami (should be very warm down there) or Orlando. I don't fly so I'd take the Greyhound bus.

Anonymous said...

Hope all is well. You haven't been here.
Patoct

Karen B said...

Just checking in. Miss you and your blog. Hope everything is fine and dandy. Karen B

holdenj said...

Hope all is well Deb--I keep popping in periodically too! Take care!