Author: J.C. Eaton
Genre: Mystery
Paperback; Digital Book
ISBN #: 9781958384855
Beyond the Page Publishing
208 Pages
$14.99; $3.99 Amazon
November 8, 2022
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Sun City West is abuzz with the news that the Food Network is sponsoring a local barbecut cook-off and that Phee's friends from the pinochle club are in the finals. But the mood soon darkens when the county planning committee announces a plan to situate a new garbage transfer station on the town's edge. With tempers flaring and rumors of corruption swirling, it comes as little surprise with the committee's chair, who happens to be a finalist in the cook-off, is found murdered.
When Phee's friends are named as the most likely suspects, she knows the accusation stinks to high heaven. As she navigates a world of politics and payoffs, she discovers there are any number of community members, along with the committee itself, who had a reason to want the chair dead. With the barbecue contest in full swing and celebrity chefs on hand to judge, Phee will have to sniff out the clues, no matter how noxious, to catch a killer...
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Sophie "Phee" Kimball-Gregory has barely returned from her honeymoon when the call from her mother comes in: there's going to be a barbecue cook-off between two teams, each trying to take the big prize from the Food Network. But she's more excited that she and her friend Myrna will be on the air during the cook-off. Unfortunately, so will their friend Paul, who talks about nothing but fish.
Then her mother learns that they want to put a garbage transfer station behind where she lives, and everything turns into chaos, especially when they learn that the committee chair is all for it -- and one of the barbecue competitors. But then the man dies, and the biggest suspect is her friend from the pinochle club, and she's back in the middle of another murder investigation.
What follows is one of the strangest comedy of errors that I've ever been witness to read, and it was completely hilarious. Especially Phee's inner conversations with herself. I pity the poor woman. Not to mention that Chiweenie Streetman has more than enough to keep him busy, and seeing what Phee's mother Harriet does on that front is one of the best parts of the book.
The turmoil includes, but is not limited to, dead fish, moose urine, the book club ladies going off the deep end, theft, protests -- well, I hope you get the idea. It's enough to give you a raging headache! But boy, is it fun to read. I think the authors have outdone themselves in this book.
When the ending comes and everything is revealed, it's entirely complex and leaves Phee grateful she doesn't work for the police. Will she finally have peace and quiet? Will Harriet stop calling her constantly? I guess you'll have to read the book to find out. But don't peek to the end -- you'll enjoy the book more. Highly recommended.
I received an advance copy from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review.
More on J.C. Eaton's Books: https://www.fantasticfiction.com/e/j-c-eaton/
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