National bestselling author Lucy Burdette’s intrepid food critic Hayley Snow must sniff out a killer in the ninth Key West Food Critic mystery.Key West food critic Hayley Snow scents-es something fishy when a customer falls stone-crab cold dead on a seafood tasting tour.Thanksgiving is nearly here, and Key West food critic Hayley Snow has just one more assignment to put to bed for Key Zest … to put to bed for Key Zest magazine before she gets to celebrate with her family and her police officer fiancé, Nathan Bransford. Then, just days later, wedding bells will ring—if death doesn’t toll first.
The sweet potatoes and stuffing will have to wait when Hayley picks up a distraught phone call from her friend, Analise Smith. On the last stop of a seafood tasting tour run by Analise, one of the customers collapsed—dead. With the police on the verge of shutting down the tour—and ruining Analise’s business—Hayley can hardly refuse her friend’s entreaties to investigate.
As if wedding jitters and family strife weren’t enough for Hayley to worry about, there’s crusty pastry chef Martha Hubbard, whose key lime pie may have been the murder weapon—but did she poison her own pie or was she framed? As the hours to Turkey Day tick away, the pressure cooker is on for Hayley to serve up the culprit on a silver platter in A Deadly Feast, national bestselling author Lucy Burdette’s taste-tempting ninth Key West Food Critic mystery.
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*I received a free copy of this book which I voluntarily chose to write an honest review for.
Okay so I have been wanting to try this series for awhile now and just never have time. I made time for this newest installment and now I so have to get my hands on the previous ones though this totally made sense without them. We follow Hayley a writer for a local paper as she is gearing up for her wedding that is happening very soon. She gets roped into going on a travelling food tour that starts great but ends with a woman in the hospital though all of the food sounds delicious. Efforts to not get involved are derailed as friends ask her to find out things plus she just keeps ending up at the right place to see/hear things. Kept me guessing though until the full reveal at the end mixing with the sweet wedding. Perfect for fans of culinary copies as the food goes well with the mystery. I really liked it so I give it 4/5 stars.
I love the Key West food Critic mysteries. Every time I read one, I feel like I’m on vacation. Lucy Burdette does a terrific job of creating a tasty, hard-to-put-down story.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
It’s almost Thanksgiving and food critic Hayley Snow already has plenty on her plate.
Her wedding to Detective Nathan Bransford is just a few days away.
Her father, stepmother, and stepbrother will be arriving in Key West soon for the festivities including Thanksgiving dinner at her mother’s.
She needs to find a place for her and her groom to live because the contractor they hired to renovate Nathan’s houseboat keeps flaking on them.
She is taking part in a seafood tasting tour to write an article for Key Zest Magazine.
Her groom is working on some top secret case and is missing all the pre-wedding festivities which has her very worried.
Plus, the murder she now has to solve. Yes, at that seafood tasting tour, one of the other participants died right in front of everyone. At least, this puts her article on hold.
A normal bride would be all wrapped up in wedding plans the week before her wedding, but Hayley Snow is not a normal bride. She takes on so much I was exhausted just reading about everything she was doing. Oh! to have her energy!
I love Hayley Snow. She is a great protagonist. She is smart and has great instincts and her investigating talents have grown so much since the first book. The one thing she can’t do is say “No” to anyone. This time a chef asked for her help but truthfully she would have investigated anyway, even after Nathan asks her to leave it to the police. In full disclosure, Nathan’s plate was as full as Hayley’s but the case he was working totally took over. Miss Gloria never fails to bring the comedy to almost any situation. She is a real treat. Almost all my other favorite characters returned in this story too. One was out of town and some just have small cameo appearances but it was nice to see them. I was also happy to see Hayley’s whole family together to support her.
The book was very entertaining. All the daily drama leading up to the real main event captivated me from the start. Because of that, the mystery portion of the story got a little lost for me. I was wrapped up in all the other chaos in Hayley’s normal life until things really started to come together in a very exciting way near the end. There was definitely some edge of the seat moments. Then the ending was positively heartwarming.
Again, this author brings on my cravings with all the delectable food. Lobster Macaroni and Cheese, Mojito Cookies, Strawberries and Lime Sponge Cake Trifle, and some unique twists on the usual Thanksgiving fare. Yes, the recipes are at the back of the book. Perfect to make your own holiday feast.
I have enjoyed each and every visit to Key West. These are some of my favorite cozy characters and a literary vacation to Key West is always fun, no matter what time of year.
Fans of this series will be delighted by this book. New readers will enjoy it even more if they start the series from the beginning.
I fully admit that I am a fan of this series but this was still one of the best books from it so far. We get to meet more characters (and family) and see the dynamics in stressful and happy situations. Delicious recipes make a sweet ending even sweeter. I really enjoyed the ever-deepening relationships the regulars have. The action in this one came a bit later but was so worth the wait. All in all, I was immensely pleased to have spent my day reading this story.
Thank you to NetGalley, Lucy Burdette, and Crooked Lane Books for giving me a chance to read this story and share my honest thoughts and opinions with others.
Journey to quirky, kooky Key West in this scrumptious culinary cozy. Food critic Haley Snow investigates a death at a seafood tasting tour. Could the murder weapon be a key lime pie? Escape to sunny Key West for a fun mystery romp.
Haley Snow’s wedding is less than a week away when she finds herself being drawn into investigating the sudden death of a tourist on a Key West foodie tour she was attending on behalf of Key Zest Magazine. Haley wants to refuse because she already has way too much on her plate, but she can’t not help a friend in need, can she?
Once again I found myself immersed in the culture of Key West, a destination definitely on my bucket list because of this series. Haley’s friends and family have become old friends to me and make me really wish I had a Miss Gloria in my life! The food described in this book had my mouth watering, and many recipes were included! This series is wonderful and entertaining and I recommend it without reservation.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are solely my own.
Another wonderful book in the Key West series. Loved the characters. They seem so real and I could see myself doing some of the crazy things they do. Couldn’t put it down once I started on it.
A classic cozy: local setting (Key West), a small group of characters, and lots of mystery.
Lucy Burdette crafts an entertaining story with plenty of action and uncertainty.
Will the wedding manage to take place?
Tune in and find out!
I enjoyed this book in the Key West Food Critic series. In fact, I enjoyed the book enough that I will probably go back and read the first 8 books.
The author does a great job of developing the characters and the mystery. You are immediately drawn into the story and follow Hayley Snow along as she prepares for her wedding, celebrating Thanksgiving with her family, and attempts to solve a murder…against her fiancé’s better judgment.
The food described had me salivating and wanting to make a trip to Key West to enjoy the delicious seafood and delightful people.
Thank you for NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This was my first foray into the world of Lucy and her Key West adventures. I am HOOKED! So much so I have already requested the first book in the series from my local library and have checked daily on its progress to my anticipating hands.
Even though I entered at book 9, I was never lost. The author did a great job in explaining the characters but it never felt like she was overdoing for those readers who have been reading since book one.
The story kept me riveted to the end and the description of the food made me rush to the store to make her Mojito Cookies this past weekend. They have been a hit. Next, I will try her pecan bars.
This is the perfect book to read outside, with a glass of sweet tea and some form of sparkling water in front of you.
I received a complimentary copy from Crooked Lane Books through NetGalley. Any and all opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.
In this next book of the series Hayley has one more story to write before it’s time to spend Thanksgiving with her family. She is looking forward to the time with her family and her fiancee but when a phone call interrupts her plans she knows that she must help out a friend and put everything else on the back burner. Things aren’t looking good for Analise, someone died while attending her tasting and the cops are ready to shut everything down. Hayley already has so many things going on, a wedding to get ready for, the holidays not to mention her family. With so much taking up her time she worries that she won’t be able to help out her friend. What’s a girl to do? Hayley knows that she must find the answers and soon so that she can get everything back on track. Follow along as Hayley delves into this mystery and starts her search for a killer. Will she be able to figure out who the murderer is before the holiday is over and her wedding day has passed or will things remain unsolved? This was a fun cozy mystery read filled with great characters, a mystery to keep you guessing, and food that will leave you hungry in the end.
Deadly Feast is the ninth installment in the Key West Food Critic series. I did have trouble getting into the story in the beginning but about half way through the pace seemed to pick up and I was finding myself wanting to read till the end.
Key West food critic Hayley Snow scents-es something fishy when a customer falls stone-crab cold dead on a seafood tasting tour run by her friend Analise. With the police on the verge of shutting down the tour and ruining Analise’s business, Hayley can hardly refuse her friend’s entreaties to investigate.
Thanksgiving is nearly here, and Key West food critic Hayley Snow has just one more assignment to put to bed for Key Zest magazine before she gets to celebrate with her family and her police officer fiancé, Nathan Bransford. Then, just days later, wedding bells will ring—if death doesn’t toll first.
The protagonist Haley is a likable main character who is intelligent, compassionate, and somewhat impulsive. I liked that she has friends from all age groups much like myself, and seems always willing to help out a friend in need. There were several plots going on in the book and several twists and turns as well as lots of delicious foods being mentioned. Luckily there are several recipes at the end of the book.
I’m interested in seeing what comes next in Hayley’s life and in Key West. I recommend this series to all my culinary mystery loving friends.
I requested and received an Advanced Reader Copy from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.
Hayley Snow’s wedding is just a few days away, and her list of things to do is long, as you’d expect. She’s got family coming in from out of town, Thanksgiving the day before, and contractors to get working on the houseboat she wants to move into soon after she gets married. So the last thing she needs to do is find herself embroiled in a mystery. But when a woman on a seafood tour Hayley is covering for work drops dead, Hayley is asked by the friend who owns the company to find out what happened. Can Hayley squeeze that into her busy week?
As you can see, there is plenty happening here, and I found the pages turning quickly. Unfortunately, I felt the mystery suffered as a result. It was often buried in everything else going on, and the resolution was rushed as a result. But I do love these characters, and getting to spend time with them is wonderful as always. I enjoyed getting to see a different side of a couple and have others return. Thanks to these books, I’ve fallen in love with Key West, so it was fantastic to get to visit again. It was a much-needed mini vacation. There are nine new recipes for us to try; personally, I’m most intrigued by the pumpkin pie recipe. While newcomers to the series won’t be as charmed with this outing, longtime fans will be happy to visit Hayley again here.
Thanksgiving, food, family, a wedding, and a murder?
A Deadly Feast by Lucy Burdette is an intriguing mystery with lots of delectable foods. I loved the setting, characters and the intuition used to help find the clues.
Hayley Snow
Haley isn’t just our sleuth she is also a food critic and an upcoming bride. She is getting married the day after Thanksgiving. Well, if her groom isn’t MIA anyways. Hayley is trying to stay busy to keep her mind off her upcoming nuptials. So, when she is asked to look into the death of a tourist, she can’t refuse.
What I like about Hayley is her love of family, friends, and food. She is also highly intuitive and a bit tenacious. Even when her fiancé asks her to leave police business to the police. Hayley is so curious. The one thing that I didn’t like about Hayley is that she jumped to some strong judgment about Odem a friend of Miss Gloria. However, he is in prison and she was just looking out for a friend.
Mystery
This mystery kept moving, fairly fast too. It was like Hayley had the answers but they were just out of her reach. Yet, that didn’t stop Hayley from asking questions and investigating the death of the lady on the tour. Oh, and the secrets that are being kept in Key West, WOW.
4 Stars for A Deadly Feast by Lucy Burdette
My rating for A Deadly Feast by Lucy Burdette is four stars. This story is well put together and the characters are fully developed and very likable. I haven’t read any other books in this series but if I have time I will give them a look.
Oh, and don’t forget to check out the recipes at the end of the book. I may do a couple of the recipes for our Thanksgiving in November. But, I still have plenty of time to plan for that one.
I recommend this book to all the cozy mystery readers out there.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Great Escapes Book Tours. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of A Deadly Feast by Lucy Burdette.
Anyways, until next time,
Karen the Baroness
Happy Reading
If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out BaronessBookTrove.com.
A magical series set in a magical location! I’ve never been to Key West, but its uniqueness and charm shine through in this book. Protagonist Hayley has a lot going on in this book and we are along for the ride. As always, the supporting characters provide a colorful array of personalities that add to the book’s charm. This was a quick and entertaining book – perfect for your next vacation or day at the beach!
Snow and cold outside, but indoors, caught up in Lucy Burdette’s A DEADLY FEAST, I enjoyed Key West warmth, delectable food, and the coziness of friendship — oh, and mysterious death and danger, just to add spice to the story as jalapeños do to fish tacos. Haley and Nathan just want a simple, beautiful wedding at which friends and family can celebrate. Thanksgiving weekend is supposed to be quiet, relatively, for Key West, but “the best laid plans . . .” lead to plenty of excitement. There is also insightful musing and examples about marriages, good, bad . . . and deadly. “Is it better to be adored, or adoring?” Will Haley really learn to “stay out of police business” and wait quietly at home? Would we want her to?
I enjoy the ways in which the circles of friendships intersect to aid others. No one is left out at Thanksgiving, and when a contractor bails or library volunteers are needed, true friends step up.
The recipes are fun to look at even if I don’t end up making them. The quotes at the beginnings of the chapters are suggestive of other books and authors I’ll be looking for.
Hayley Snow has enough going on with her job and her personal life. When someone dies while on a food tasting tour, she once again finds herself in the thick of things. I love this series, and this book did not disappoint. A Deadly Feast has a ton of twists and turns, and I couldn’t stop reading. Lucy Burdette is a wonderful author, and I highly recommend this book and this series!
Another political opinion/news headlines book. and this time it’s about the #Metoo movement. Great quotes and examples of real life #metoo examples of harassment and abuse added to the story. Is this a new genre of cozy mysteries?
I just wanted a simple cozy mystery that’ll take me away from real life. I miss the flow of the previous books 1-7.
Lucy Burdette’s 9th Key West Food Critic Mystery, A Deadly Feast, takes the reader on a culinary and mysterious tour of Florida’s most famous key, and it’s my absolute favorite in the series so far! Hayley and her fiance, Detective Nathan Bransford, are all set to be married the day after Thanksgiving when Nathan becomes embroiled in a very hush-hush case, and Hayley is (shockingly, lol!) a witness once again to a sudden death. Was it murder or an accident? Will the renovations on their new houseboat ever be completed (or started???)? Will Hayley and Nathan make it to the church on time? To find out the answer to these burning questions, I highly recommend that you treat yourself to this perfect little cozy mystery! A well-written story, and (as usual) delicious recipes are included as a bonus. A+++
Foodie Cozy Mystery
This is a cozy mystery with a foodie theme set in Key West. I found it boring and difficult to finish. The mystery portion was fine as were the characters. My major issue was the setting. I chose this book because I wanted an inside scoop on life in the Keys. What I got was a novel that could have taken place in any coastal town. There was nothing that said Key West, Florida that couldn’t have also said Galveston Island, Texas. My other issue was the main character’s issue with marrying a police officer. She comes across as a drama queen who has not fully thought this issue through, and the wedding is this week. For a mature woman to have not considered that her future husband is all about protecting her and all of his loved ones – well, maybe she should think about this marriage while she grows up. I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.