Perfect for fans of Joanne Fluke and Leslie Meier, national bestseller Lucy Burdette’s eighth Key West Food Critic mystery sees the return of fan-favorite food critic Hayley Snow, who must once again get to the bottom of a bitter murder. When a killer strikes just before flan time, beloved food critic Hayley Snow is forced to sniff out the killer before someone else bites the dust.Hayley Snow, … dust.
Hayley Snow, fiery food critic for Key Zest magazine, has just landed a ticket to one of the most prestigious events in Key West: a high-brow three-day conference at the Harry Truman Little White House. Even though she’ll be working the event helping her mother’s fledgling catering business, there’s plenty of spicy gossip to go around. But just before her mother’s decadent flan is put to the test, Key West’s most prized possession, Hemingway’s Nobel prize gold medal for The Old Man and the Sea, is discovered stolen from its case.
Unsavory suspicions point to Gabriel, a family friend and one of the new busboys working the event, who mysteriously goes missing moments later. Anxious to clear his name, Gabriel’s family enlists Hayley to help find him, but right as they begin their search, his body is found stabbed to death in the storeroom.
Hayley has no shortage of suspects to interrogate and very little time before the killer adds another victim to the menu in national bestselling author Lucy Burdette’s delectable eighth Key West Food Critic mystery, Death on the Menu.
more
This story makes it easy to immerse yourself in all things Key West. Through protagonist Hayley Snow we learn about Harry Truman’s Little White House, the people, town, events and food of the area… Hayley is helping her mom cater the Havana/Key West conference which goes from bad to worse with high tensions, theft and finally murder. It is a well balanced mystery that touches on politics with a small bit of romance.
This is book number 8 in A Key West Food Critic Mystery series but it could easily be read as a stand alone. I received this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Hayley Snow is a food critic for Key Zest magazine and also assists her mom at a catering business. When a bid is won for a catering job for a high profile 3-day Cuban event, Hayley once more finds herself knee-deep in murder.
Just as the flan is being served during the event, Hemingway’s Nobel prize gold medal is discovered missing from its case and the new busboy Gabriel is found stabbed to death in a storeroom. Gabriel’s family wants answers, so Hayley puts on her sleuthing cap to figure out who amongst the long list of suspects wanted Gabriel dead. Why was he murdered and what does it have to do with the missing gold medal?
Lucy Burdette weaves a wonderful mystery which includes a female lead with a flair for solving murders, a supporting case of fun & quirky characters, a great mix of possible suspects, and lots of twists and turns until you finally discover whodunnit.
DEATH ON THE MENU
Can one be homesick for a place one has never visited? I would have said no, but after reading Lucy Burdette’s Key West mysteries, I feel a bit homesick for sunsets on the beach, Conch Tours, John Martini sculptures (I looked them up — playful! and looked up gumbo limbo trees, too). Now I want some key lime pie . . . as well as flan, mojito cake, and Cuban Mix sandwiches (recipes included).
Those sandwiches are a perfect segue into the complication of DEATH ON THE MENU, a conference on Key West-Havana relations set at the Truman White House and the Hemingway House, with an exciting opening evening . . . special guests (I’m not telling) marred by the disappearance of a valuable piece of history (still not telling), a tragic death, and (am I shallow for caring so much about this detail?) spilled flan. Hayley Snow and friends are up to the challenge, and also wise to learn lessons like cherishing time together. Miss Gloria is inspiring, and deserving of loyalty.
The quotes beginning the chapters are well-chosen and apt, adding more to think about.
I was sold from the dedication:
For immigrants everywhere, who dare to leave what they know and love in search of a better life.
Analogies or lessons for life —
Cuban guayabera shirts should be standard in all hot climates.
Sometimes beautifully planned and executed desserts end up spilled or spoiled.
Life can be like a wreck of a houseboat “with good bones,” with enough work, it can be grand.
“You work bits and pieces of information around until it all drops into place —“
Be yourself: The bride who wanted s’mores instead of wedding cake is a lesson in individuality. My great-niece did her one better, with s’mores right after the wedding and cake at the reception.
Hayley and the gang are back! The characters are entertaining, and the plot twists kept me glued to the book. The descriptions of the food and the scenery are wonderful. Hayley always finds herself in the thick of things, and I love to find out if, and how, she’s going to get out of certain situations. If you love food, pets, and a great cozy mystery, then this is the book and series for you.
If you like a dash of real history in your cozy mysteries, this is the book to get. Burdette has spent a good amount of time in Key West and it has shown in the previous 7 books, but it really shines in this one. You learn a bit about Hemingway’s time there and his life in general plus the history Cuba has with the closest American land to it. The political aspect, while realistic, doesn’t overwhelm the story.
Since Haley’s mom (and step father) have moved to Key West, Haley spends more time with her in this book, the reasons why are authentic and move the plot along. I also like how Burdette really brings an extra twist of feeling to the relationship Haley has with her octogenarian roommate. It’s always been clear that they liked each other, but it’s enhanced here. Less time (almost none) was spent at her job or with her co-workers which I didn’t miss.
The one thing I questioned while reading is Haley’s relationship with her ex. I thought in the last book they had worked out their issues during their quality “closet time”. Maybe not as much as I recalled. Not a big deal.
I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
Political opinions and current news headlines fill the story covering refugees. I just wanted a simple cozy mystery.
Death on the Menu by Lucy Burdette is A Key West Food Critic Mystery. Hayley Snow is helping her mother cater a three-day event at the Harry Truman Little White House in Key West, Florida. Catering the Cuban/American conference is a coup for her fledgling business. Nathan Bransford, Hayley’s boyfriend, would prefer if Hayley bowed out since it is a controversial event and protestors will be present. On the first day of the event, Hemingway’s Nobel prize gold medal for Old Man and the Sea on loan from Cuba disappears. It is the first time the medal has ever left Cuba and the Cuban delegates are outraged. Despite searches of the house and staff, they are unable to locate it. That night as the flan is being served, Gabriel is found stabbed to death in the kitchen closet. Gabriel’s family asks Hayley to investigate his death and get justice for the family by finding his killer. Despite Nathan’s objections, Hayley plunges into the case. Miss Gloria and Hayley are worried about the houseboat for sale next to them. The last tenants were party hearty types that continually disturbed the residents of Houseboat Row. Plus, Hayley has articles to write for Key Zest magazine and little time to sample the local Cuban cuisine for her critique. Hayley is in for a busy weekend in Death on the Menu.
Death on the Menu contains good writing and engaging characters. Lucy Burdette does a wonderful job at world building. She includes various shops and sites in Key West. Her descriptions bring the area alive. I do not recommend reading Death on the Menu without having read An Appetite for Murder which will give you an introduction to Hayley, her friends, her job, and the area. I liked the inclusion of Key West history and information about Ernest Hemingway (adds to the world building). There are some lovely cozy moments in the story along with tasty food descriptions. I am a fan of Miss Gloria and I envy the pair living on a houseboat (except when a hurricane is approaching). I like Miss Gloria’s love of sequins (it is cute) and Hayley’s love of high top tennis shoes (I adore my Converse and have them in different colors/prints). While I am not a fan of Nathan, he does do something at the end that puts him a better light. I did feel that Death on the Menu is a slow starter and the pace throughout the book was slow. The mystery was interesting, but I wish it had been more of a challenge to identify the guilty party. I felt that some details were missing from the story (what is the mother’s name and the name of her catering business for example). There are recipes included at the end. They include Cuban roast pork, black bean soup, mojito cake and flan. I thought the ending was sweet, romantic and upbeat. Join Hayley Snow on her latest sleuthing adventure in Death on the Menu.