Publication Date: 08/05/2014
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Berkley Prime Crime
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Pages: 304
ISBN-10: 0425262421
ISBN-13: 978-0425262429
(Received for an honest review from Berkley Prime Crime)
Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, Indiebound
Kylie Logan on the WEB: website, twitter, facebook, goodreads
Books in the series:
Chili Cook-Off Mystery series
1. Chili Con Carnage
2. Death by Devil's Breath
Coverart: Click the Image for a larger, clearer view of the covers in this series.
Excerpt from, Death by Devil's Breath, courtesy of Amazon's Look Inside feature
Synopsis:
Cold-blooded murder can be hot as hell…
In Las Vegas, the stakes are high—and so is the Scoville scale. Maxie Pierce and the Chili Showdown are in town for a very heated contest devoted to judging the legendary and notorious-for-being-self-combustible Devil’s Breath chili. The guest judges are casino performers with a taste for chili and an eye for publicity.
Maxie is already going mad organizing the event, dealing with her snide half sister, Sylvia, and trying to figure out her hothead of security, Nick. But when a local hack comedian drops dead in the middle of the Showdown, it isn’t the spicy dish—it’s poison. And Maxie is going to have to shuffle through a full deck of suspects to pick out the culprit.
Thoughts:
Death by Devil's Breath is the second book in Kylie Logan's Chili Cook-Off mystery series featuring Maxie Pierce. This heroine has just about as much spice as her award winning chili seasonings. Logan captivates readers with the lure of the cook-off circuit and the antics that go on behind the scenes, while giving them a good solid mystery and tons of humor. A great addition to this series which is sure to be a winner!
What I liked:
Who doesn't love a good bowl of hearty, meaty chili? It's one of my favorite meals on a cold day or even on a sunny one, if the mood strikes. Kylie Logan has really stumbled onto a great idea with the Chili Cook-Off mystery series. Cook-off circuits tend to be filled with over the top characters and outrageous personalities, but most of all these people are serious about their food and their reputations. A breeding ground for a good mystery? I think so...
In the first book in the series, Maxie Pierce joins her sister Sylvia in running the Hot-Cha Chili Seasoning Palace. She hired Nick as her head of security and a cast of comical characters was born. Kylie Logan's use of humor is one of the best parts of this series. Not only does she give her heroine a 'spicy' personality, but she puts her in all sorts of situations that showcase her unusual sense of humor and view of life. She is a lot of fun to read and readers will find themselves laughing their way through this book.
That's not to say that murder is a laughing matter, but comic relief lightens the mood of the book. Local comedian, Dickie Dunkin ends up dead in his bowl of Devil's Breath Chili. There is a cast of performers and tons of other suspects. It's Vegas and anything can happen. The mystery aspects of the story were solid. The clues were strategically placed throughout the story. It was a toss up as to who I thought the killer might be. Funny thing was... it wasn't either of the ones I had picked out. The mark of a good mystery writer!
What I didn't like:
Maxie's relationship with her sister, Sylvia is typical of siblings, but sometimes it gets a little monotonous. I wanted to grab them both and give them a good shake a time or two, but I think that might be part of the charm of the series. I also wanted to know more about the mystery surrounding their father, and I didn't think we got too much further on that front in this book.
Bottom Line:
Readers who are looking for a comical mystery will love this one. Tons of humor, a cast of characters that are loyal even if they don't always get along. And a mystery thread that runs throughout the series. That means I'm looking forward to the next one and that I think you'd be missing a real treat if you pass this one up.
Death by Devil's Breath is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.
I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!
Check out the quote from Debbie's Book Bag on the first page inside the cover!
About the Author:
Giveaway Details:
The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of Death by Devil's Breath by Kylie Logan.
~ You must be an email subscriber to participate.
~ US addresses only.
~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST, September 1st.
1. Please leave a comment about your special ingredient for fantastic chili.
2. Please fill out the FORM.
24 comments:
I use chunky salsa when I want to add some kick, but don't have the real hot peppers on hand. Thanks!
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com
i just add lots of salsa and chili powder.
jslbrown2009(at)aol(dot)com
Spicy foods don't agree with me but I do love reading this series!
kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com
I don't make my own Chili, but I do love Wendy's chili when I need a chili pick me up.
Kimberlee
girllostinabook@hotmail.com
www.girllostinabook.com
I use a chili mix, but I add rotel tomatoes to it!
My husband uses pork and beans as well as green peppers in his chili
Ground pork.
lag110 at mchsi dot com
I like to use ground venison and navy beans rather than kidney beans.
I have the first to read now and would love the second!
afarage(at)earthlink.net
I make my chili with ground turkey breast!
skkorman AT bellsouth DOT net
Ground turkey.
CABWNANA1@bellsouth.net
I use sun dried tomatoes and basil. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com
We are big chili fans around here and we've tried a lot of different combinations over the years. Some of the more non-traditional ingredients we have tried, include roasted red peppers, Louisana Hot Sauce, V-8 juice and great northern beans.
Chocolate or whatever made Cincinnati chili great. Was it cinnamon?
I use a mix of kidney, pinto, and black beans for my chili.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
I use whole dried chiles in mine.
When I used to make it, I used Spice Islands Chile Con Carne seasoning. Now, my son makes it and he likes to add diced jalapenos which drives me crazy.
I don't cook......when I need a chili-fix, I go to Wendy's........
Green peppers
Kit3247(at)aol(dot)com
I don't like chili! I prefer the non-bean variety but the last time I ate chili I didn't like it. Skyline Chili's secret ingredient is supposed to be cinnamon.
I live in northwest Ohio and one of this author's other series is set there, in Put-In-Bay. I went there once years ago.
I just like to put a lot of chopped green pepper and onions in mine. Thanks for having the giveaway.
ayancey1974(at)gmail(dot)com
don't make chili
I make vegetarian chili with several types if beans.
I don't eat chili.
Different colors of peppers, and somethimes corn
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