Synopses & Reviews
Hit whodunit writer Victoria Rienzi is getting back to her roots by working at her familys Italian restaurant. But now in between plating pasta and pouring vino, shell have to find the secret ingredient in a murder....
When Victoria takes a break from penning her popular mystery series and moves back to the Jersey shore, she imagines sun, sand, and scents of fresh basil and simmering marinara sauce at the family restaurant, the Casa Lido. But her nonnas recipes arent the only things getting stirred up in this Italian kitchen.
Their small town is up in arms over plans to film a new reality TV show, and when Victoria serves the shows pushy producer his last meal, the Casa Lido staff finds itself embroiled in a murder investigation. Victoria wants to find the real killer, but there are as many suspects as tomatoes in her nonnas garden. Now shell have to heat up her sleuthing skills quickly
before someone else gets a plateful of murder.
First in a new series!
RECIPES INCLUDED!
Review
“What fun! Lucy Burdette writes evocatively about Key West and food—a winning combination. I can’t wait for the next entry in this charming series.”—
New York Times bestselling author Diane Mott Davis
"The victim may not be coming back for seconds, but readers certainly will!”—Julie Hyzy, national bestselling author of the White House Chef mysteries and Manor House mysteries
Review
Praise for the national bestselling Key West Food Critic Mystery series:
"What fun! Lucy Burdette writes evocatively about Key West and food--a winning combination. I can't wait for the next entry in this charming series." --New York Times bestselling author Diane Mott Davidson
"Food, fun, and felonies. What more could a reader ask for?" --New York Times bestselling author Lorna Barrett
"Combines a lush, tropical setting, a mysterious murder, and plenty of quirky characters. The victim may not be coming back for seconds, but readers certainly will!" --New York Times bestselling author Julie Hyzy
"A fine plot, a delightful heroine, a wealth of food--and all the charm and craziness of Key West." --Richmond Times-Dispatch
"[For] gourmets who enjoy a little mayhem with their munchies." --Publishers Weekly
Review
Praise for Penny Pike writing as Penny Warner and her Party-Planning Mystery Series:
“A party you dont want to miss.”—New York Times Bestselling Author Denise Swanson
“The books dish up a banquet of mayhem.”—The Oakland Tribune
“Delightful!”—Meritorious Mysteries
Review
Praise for Murder and Marinara “The tastiest item on the menu with colorful characters, a sharp plot, and a fabulous Jersey setting. I enjoyed every bite.”—Jenn McKinlay, New York Times bestselling author
“Clever and intriguing….It definitely left me hungry for more.”—Livia J. Washburn, author of the Fresh Baked Mystery series
Synopsis
Hayley Snow's life always revolved around food. But when she applies to be a food critic for a Key West style magazine, she discovers that her new boss would be Kristen Faulkner-the woman Hayley caught in bed with her boyfriend! Hayley thinks things are as bad as they can get-until the police pull her in as a suspect in Kristen's murder. Kristen was killed by a poisoned key lime pie. Now Hayley must find out who used meringue to murder before she takes all the blame.
Synopsis
As the new food critic for Key Zest
magazine, Hayley Snow went from being a culinary groupie to one of Florida’s cutting-edge tastemakers. But as always, when life serves Haley a dream come true, it comes paired with a most exquisite murder.... The annual Key West literary conference is drawing the biggest names in food writing from all over the country, and Haley is there to catch a few fresh morsels of insider gossip. Superstar restaurant critic Jonah Barrows has already ruffled a few foodie feathers with his recent tell-all memoir, and as keynote speaker, he promises more of the same jaw-dropping honesty.
But when Hayley discovers Jonah’s body in a nearby dipping pool, the cocktail-hour buzz takes a sour turn, and Hayley finds herself at the center of attention—especially with the police. Now it’s up to her to catch the killer before she comes to her own bitter finish.
Synopsis
Hayley Snow loves her job as the food critic for Key Zest
magazine, tasting the offerings from Key West’s most innovative restaurants. She’d rate her life four stars, until she’s forced into the spotlight…and another murder investigation. Hoping for some good publicity, Hayley’s boss signs her up to help judge the Key West Topped Chef contest. Stakes are high as the winner could be the next cooking-show superstar. Hayley shows up for the filming nervous but excited, until she sees who’s on the judging panel with her: Sam Rizzoli, big shot businessman—and owner of the restaurant she just panned in her first negative review.
When Rizzoli turns up dead, the police assume his killer is one of his business rivals. But Hayley wonders whether someone is taking the contest a little too seriously. With the police following the wrong recipe, it’s up to Hayley to find the killer before she’s eliminated from the show…permanently.
Synopsis
As the new food critic for Key Zest
magazine, Hayley Snow went from being a culinary groupie to one of Florida’s cutting-edge tastemakers. But as always, when life serves Haley a dream come true, it comes paired with a most exquisite murder.... The annual Key West literary conference is drawing the biggest names in food writing from all over the country, and Haley is there to catch a few fresh morsels of insider gossip. Superstar restaurant critic Jonah Barrows has already ruffled a few foodie feathers with his recent tell-all memoir, and as keynote speaker, he promises more of the same jaw-dropping honesty.
But when Hayley discovers Jonah’s body in a nearby dipping pool, the cocktail-hour buzz takes a sour turn, and Hayley finds herself at the center of attention—especially with the police. Now it’s up to her to catch the killer before she comes to her own bitter finish.
Synopsis
Hayley Snow, the food critic for Key Zest
magazine, has her plate heaped high with restaurant reviews, doughnut and sticky bun tastings, and an article on the Hemingway cats. But this week shes also in charge of her best friends wedding. And then someone adds a side of murder
For better or worse, Hayley has agreed to bake over 200 cupcakes for her friend Connies wedding while still meeting her writing deadlines. The last thing she needs is family drama. But her parents come barreling down on the island like a category 3 hurricane and on their first night in town her stepbrother, Roby, disappears into the spring break party scene in Key West.
When Hayley hears that two teenagers have stolen a jet ski, she sets aside her oven mitts and goes in search of Rory. She finds him, barely conscious, but his female companion isnt so lucky. Now Hayley has to let the cupcakes cool and assemble the sprinkles of clues to clear her stepbrothers namebefore someone else gets iced.
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, dont seem to extend to the restaurant biz. Hayley has been assigned to interview Edel Waugh, chef/owner of Key Wests hottest new restaurant. But off the record, Edel reveals someones sabotaging her kitchen and asks Hayley to investigate.
Things heat up fast when the restaurant is set on fireand a body is discovered in the charred wreckage. Is someone out to destroy the chefs businessor 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
INCLUDES RECIPES!
Synopsis
First in a new series!
At the San Francisco Seafood Festival, someone is steamed enough to kill a cook....
When restaurant reviewer Darcy Burnett gets served a pink slip from the San Francisco Chronicle, she needs to come up with an alternative recipe for success quickly. Her feisty aunt Abby owns a tricked-out school bus, which shes converted into a hip and happening food truck, and Darcy comes aboard as a part-timer while she develops a cookbook project based on recipes from food fests in the Bay Area.
But she soon finds someones been trafficking in character assassinationliterallywhen a local chef turns up dead and her aunt is framed for the murder. The restaurant chef was an outspoken enemy of food trucks, and now Darcy wonders if one of the other vendors did him in. With her aunts businessand freedomon the line, its up to Darcy to steer the murder investigation in the right direction and put the brakes on an out-of-control killer
.
RECIPES INCLUDED!
About the Author
Clinical psychologist Roberta Isleib, AKA Lucy Burdette, has had eight previous mysteries published. Her books and stories have been short-listed for Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity awards. Her story “The Itinerary,” under the Roberta Isleib name, was selected for inclusion in The Rich and the Dead, an MWA anthology edited by Nelson DeMille. She is a past president of Sisters in Crime.