Cook-Off Mysteries Book 9
Author: Devon Delaney
Genre: Mystery
Paperback; Digital Book
ISBN #: 9781960511867
Beyond The Page Publishing
208 Pages
$14.00; $5.99 Amazon
September 17, 2024
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Despite being a seasoned competitor, nothing could have prepared Sherry Oliveri for the thrill of being chosen for a three-day cooking challenge on national television. She's dying to tell her friends, but she and everyone else involved in the contest has been sworn to secrecy until it airs. Still, that's not stopping someone from penning cryptic notes about the show for the whole town to read, which has the production crew on edge -- right up until one of them is found dead.
Determined to root out the killer, Sherry suspects the truth lies with whoever's behind the mysterious notes -- which have now turned dark with menacing comments on the murder and suggestions of buried secrets. Trying to unravel it all while focusing on her recipes, Sherry's stopped dead in her tracks when the cook-off host drops a bombshell. With no time to spare, she'll have to unearth the one missing ingredient that will ensure the killer's cooked...
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Sherry Oliveri is a multiple-time winner of cook-offs, and enjoys creating new recipes while having fun at the same time. She's been chosen for one that takes place in her small town of Augustin. Unfortunately, though, she's not able to tell anyone, because this one is different in that it's a television program that's set to air on Labor Day, and it must be kept under wraps.
Meanwhile, she plays tennis most every morning with her friend Kat, who works for the mayor. She also discovers that Kat knows a member of the production team; which becomes a problem when that person is murdered, and Kat becomes a suspect. When both Kat and her mother ask for Sherry's help in finding a killer, she can't say no. But who wanted the person dead? Also, who's writing cryptic notes about the show on napkins? And is Sherry in any danger of being killed next?...
I have read every book in this series and I have enjoyed them all quite a bit. Ms. Delaney gives us characters that are believable, and even more so, likeable as well. I do enjoy following Sherry's life and her cook-offs, mainly because I love to cook and bake myself. (Although I have no interest in entering any contests!)
In this mystery, the notes allude to a secret that someone has which could turn the competition on its side. But who is the subject? No one seems to know, and no one seems to be the author. Sherry is suspicious of someone on the production crew, and even Kat's new boyfriend, Garrett, who is a local journalist hired to document and film it all. Tensions are running high, and barbs are being thrown, but when they go in every direction, Sherry knows she needs to focus on the three-day event if she has a chance of winning.
With accidents occurring and contestants being eliminated, Sherry hunkers down and does what she does best: focuses on what's in front of her at the time she needs to. Which means the event comes first and finding a killer is next, if she can just concentrate enough...
I do like the fact that she shares what she knows with Detective Ray Bease, who values her input and doesn't dismiss her out of hand; it lends to a personal relationship as well (platonic), where their friendship doesn't interfere in his investigations. Sherry also has a good support group, including her boyfriend Don, who doesn't try to change her or get mad at her for what she does. (Even as he worries, which is normal).
When Sherry comes to the end of the competition, it is a surprise all around, including to me. I was as stunned as she was. It was decent, and didn't go for the 'oomph' view that television seems to go for these days. When she discovers -- as we know she will -- the killer, it was a bit of a surprise, although I knew who is was a little earlier than Sherry; but we had the clues and only needed to put them together. It was both sad and needless, but you can never get into the mind of a killer (nor would I want to -- I just love reading about them; ghoulish, I know!).
All in all, this was another winner for this author, and I look forward to the next in the series. Highly recommended.
I received 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/
