Author: Devon Delaney
Genre: Mystery
Paperback; Digital Book
ISBN #: 9781954717800
Beyond the Page Publishing
206 Pages
$13.99; $4.99 Amazon
March 1, 2022
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Sidelined by an injury, longtime cook-off contestant Sherry Oliveri has agreed to offer her wisdom and moral support to a friend who's entering the Ktichen Royalty Cook-Off. She knows the key is to plan ahead for anything that could go wrong, but nothing prepared Sherry for discovering the event sponsor's dead body hidden behind one of the appliances -- or having her friend singled out as the most likely suspect.
Determined to get her friend out of hot water, Sherry sets her sights on the victim's disgruntled wife and a rival sponsor. But her friend's shaky alibi and the revelation that she may have been nursing an old grudge against the victim leave Sherry in a stew. Desperate to figure out who framed her friend, Sherry will have to sift through the clues and grill the suspects to bring a killer to justice...
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Sherry Oliveri works for her father at his shop, The Ruggery. But she'd rather be doing what she does best: entering another cook-off contest, and this one is being held in her hometown of Augustin. However, while perfecting her latest recipe she accidentally cut her hand and since she's in stitches, she has to sit this one out. But at least she can help her friend Amber, who's fairly new to cook-offs, as she works on her own entry.
She's also been invited aboard her boyfriend Don's new boat, in which he ferries passengers from one place to another. On this voyage, the passengers are other cook-off contestants, and the new sponsors, Washington Appliances, who have suddenly replaced the other one due to a problem. While Sherry watches the people on board, she notices that all is not well, and there are tensions. Still, she thinks since she's not entering, it's nothing to worry about.
But then Sherry is asked to help out at the cook-off, and help contestants the day of the event. Happy to do so, she's given a tour by Rickie O'Dell, the organizer, and during one of these trips Rickie spots the body of one of the sponsors, and when he is examined, it's determined he was murdered. Now, with a couple of knives missing, her friend Amber is on top of the suspect list. Determining to prove Amber innocent isn't easy with Amber fighting her at every turn, and the other suspects seemingly disinterested as to the goings-on. Will Sherry be able to prove Amber innocent, or will her goose be cooked?
This is the sixth book in the series and I have read them all. I do love this series, as Sherry is not only a great cook, she's a good friend and an intelligent woman who's not in-your-face when she asks questions. I don't really care for protagonists who go around accusing everyone of being the killer. She also has a good relationship with homicide detective Ray Bease, who once again is on this case.
There is plenty going on, with Sherry's brother Pep trying to start a food truck business as well as write about it -- and I do love Pep, although I don't know why -- Amber's reunion with an ex-co-worker and keeping him away from Sherry; and Sherry's boyfriend Don's new business, which isn't giving them a lot of time together, although there is a word here and there about what their future holds.
The action is non-stop, and with the infighting between sponsors and Sherry and Amber, there's plenty going on. I did know the murderer the minute this person stepped onto the page, but I attribute that to the fact that I read a lot of mysteries, and know what I'm looking for (following my own clues, as it were!). Still, it never spoils my enjoyment of the books, and it certainly didn't mar my enjoyment of this one at all.
You have to watch for the clues, but they are there, and all the talk of food was making me hungry, so I made sure to have healthy snacks nearby! When the climax comes the murderer is revealed, the reasons exposed, and it was worth the wait. I did like the ending quite a bit, and can't wait for the next in the series. Highly recommended.
I was given a copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review.
More on Devon Delaney's Books: https://www.fantasticfiction.com/d/devon-delaney/
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