- Series: A Five-Ingredient Mystery
- Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
- Publisher: Kensington (November 4, 2014)
- ISBN: 9781617731389
- Source: Personal copy
RECIPE FOR A DELICIOUS FIVE-INGREDIENT MYSTERY
Take a burned-out cookbook publicist.
Stir in a crusty codger.
Toss with a large helping of murder.
Add a dash of romance.
Serve with a twist of humor.
When Val Deniston, former cookbook publicist, is involved in a car accident, it changes her life irreparably. She leaves her job in New York and moves to Bayport, MD and hopes to start a quieter life and the opportunity to work on her own cookbook. Instead, she finds herself mixed up in murder.
When a member of Val’s tennis team is found brutally murdered, Val’s cousin and dear friend is assumed a prime suspect. Unwilling to accept someone so close to her could be responsible, Val launches her own investigation to uncover the identity of the killer.
What a fun read! Ok, I know that sounds odd. Yes, there is a murder, but surrounding that plot line is a multitude of other side stories. Val’s moved from the Big Apple to a quiet, bay town. That move alone is shocking! She’s moved in with her curmudgeon Grandfather, who somehow ends up being the food columnist for the local newspaper. Additionally, the car accident that changed her life is a mystery of its own to be solved, for amnesia has left her completely devoid of memories of the accident.
Corrigan brilliantly weaves all of these vastly different storylines into one perfectly executed cozy mystery. The dynamic characters and discussion of food make the perfect recipe for a truly enjoyable read. And yes, as the series title suggests the author includes five-ingredient recipes (my favorite may very well be the crab cake recipe)!
All this said, I know there are foodies out there that will critique the author’s (and character’s) culinary skills. This is a cozy mystery, people, not some gourmet cookbook. Take it for what it is, a truly fun and delightful read. I can’t wait to check out the next book in the series, Scam Powder, due out next summer. Highly recommended!
