Hot pasta and a cold corpse make for quite a combination in the latest book in the Ethnic Eats mystery series.When Laurel Inwood features Italian cuisine on the Terminal at the Tracks menu, she knows she’ll need to stock the shelves, the fridge, and the freezer with plenty of wonderful delicacies. She just never expected one of them to be her former employer, Hollywood superstar Meghan Cohan.And … Meghan Cohan.
And one day, when Laurel is at the restaurant early to get ready for the regular rush of customers, that’s exactly what she finds–Meghan dead in the Terminal freezer.
What’s a Hollywood A-lister doing in Hubbard, Ohio?
For Laurel, that’s the real question, because the first question she’d ask in any other murder investigation–who would want the victim dead?–seems pretty much a no-brainer in this case.
Who would want Meghan dead?
Just about anybody who had ever met her.
more
Typical to the other Kylie Logan books I have read,Italian Iced is a page turning cozy mystery infused with humor and charm. It was the first book in the series I have read, but I didn’t feel left behind. It drew me in and kept me engaged in both the characters and the mystery.
If you are a fan of culinary cozies packed full of humor and small town charm, then check out Italian Iced by Kylie Logan. If you are anything like me, it will leave you craving more from this talented author!
https://cozyexperience.com/when-one-kylie-logan-series-ends-you-find-another/
Italian Iced
Ethnic Eats, Book #3
Kylie Logan
5 Stars
Synopsis:
Hot pasta and a cold corpse make for quite a combination in the latest book in the Ethnic Eats mystery series.
When Laurel Inwood features Italian cuisine on the Terminal at the Tracks menu, she knows she’ll need to stock the shelves, the fridge, and the freezer with plenty of wonderful delicacies. She just never expected one of them to be her old boss, Hollywood superstar Meghan Cohan.
But one day when Laurel is at the restaurant early to get ready for the regular rush of customers, that’s exactly what she finds–Meghan dead in the Terminal freezer.
What’s a Hollywood A-lister doing in Hubbard, Ohio?
For Laurel, that’s the real question, because the first question she’d ask in any other murder investigation–who would want the victim dead?–seems pretty much a no-brainer in this case.
Who would want Meghan dead?
Just about anybody who had ever met her. (Goodreads)
Review:
The characters are well rounded and well developed. I really enjoy Laurel, she is gutsy, smart and determined. She is not easily fooled and she sure is not a pushover. But she also has a softer caring side. She seemed multifaceted to me and very real. I enjoyed spending time with her work “family” and especially her “not aunt” Sophie, you can really tell that they care about and love each other very much. And Declan is a wonderful boyfriend and Laurel better not let him get away. But with her past of growing up in foster homes, she has trouble believing in happily-ever-after.
The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. It helped me get into the flow of the story and kept me there the entire time. The author is very talented in her descriptive and through much of the book I felt like I was right there, smelling the foods and listening in on conversations. The author does a great job of describing the dishes being served without turning the book into a cookbook. And the couple of recipes at the back of the book sound delicious.
The mystery is well plotted and is not easy to solve. With so many suspects that disliked the deceased and lots of clues to sift through, I had a difficult time trying to solve this mystery. Throw in some twists and turns and red herrings and I was not sure of the culprit’s identity until it was revealed. Which is just how I like my mysteries.
I would highly recommend this book, and series, to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. To me, this book is exactly what a cozy should be. Check it out and I bet you will agree.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Berkley Publishing Group, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.
Loved this book!! I’m pretty sure this is the last book in this series, which is disappointing because it’s so much fun! In this book, the celebrity who Laurel was a personal chef for is found murdered in the restaurant. Laurel and Declan investigate to see why Meghan was there and who killed her. Love the ethnic food themes of this series and the book ended on a happy note. I will miss the series and the recipes!
Italian Iced by Kylie Logan is An Ethnic Eats Mystery. Laurel Inwood is gearing up for Italian cuisine month at Terminal at the Tracks in Hubbard, Ohio. She knows it will be a popular theme with their patrons. The first night Laurel notices a shabbily dressed older man with a fedora nursing a cup of coffee. When she arrives home at Pacifique, she is greeted with an open door and her kitchen is in a disarray. Someone went through all her cookbooks. On Saturday morning when Laurel arrives at the restaurant, she finds the kitchen ransacked and, again, all the cookbooks have been disturbed. Detective Gus Oberlin arrives to take a report and hints that he would love to try the gelato. Laurel opens the walk-in freezer and finds her former employer and Hollywood actress, Meghan Cohan frozen on the floor. She is wearing a disguise and Laurel recognizes her as the woman she bumped into the previous night. What was Meghan looking for among Laurel’s belongings and why was she incognito? The real question is who killed Meghan Cohan? The suspect list is lengthy as Meghan antagonized every person she encountered. Laurel needs to find the killer quickly, so she can get rid of the pesky reporters plaguing the restaurant.
Italian Iced is the third book in An Ethnic Eats Mystery series and it can be read alone. I like the characters in this cute cozy mystery series. Laurel is a strong main character with a passion for food. She has found a home in Hubbard along with close friends and her boyfriend, Declan Fury. The mystery was multifaceted with red herrings and twists. Armchair sleuths will have a difficult time solving this whodunit. I did have two unanswered questions at the end, though, that I wish the author had addressed. There is plenty of yummy sounding food mentioned throughout the book as Laurel creates Italian dishes for the restaurant. There is romance as Laurel and Declan’s relationship deepens. The ending was charming and romantic. It seems, though, that Italian Iced is the last novel in An Ethnic Eats Mystery series. I am happy that the author took the time provide a satisfying ending for her readers. If you are looking for a cozy mystery with engaging characters, luscious food, and a killer mystery, then you should read Italian Iced.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
I really love this series. Growing up in a family that owned and operated a restaurant much like the Terminal at the Tracks before Laurel arrived I know the author’s depiction of how hard it is to keep an eatery open with enough customers to turn a profit is true. My mother sold the restaurant not long after my father passed and no one else has been able to take it over and replicate the success she had. I love Laurel’s idea of a different type of cuisine every month while still keeping customer favorite’s on the menu. It keeps the menu fresh and fun both for the customers and the cooks.
By this third book in the series, Laurel has decided to stay in Hubbard and Sophia is back to work. A new waitress adds a bit of drama, but the staff works together like a well-oiled machine. The characters this author has created are so realistic. I feel like I could take a little trip to Ohio and walk right into the Terminal at the Tracks. The dialogue rings true. The relationships have developed naturally. This cast has worked their way right into my heart.
The idea of Hollywood superstar Meghan Cohan, Laurel’s former employer showing up in Hubbard would never have crossed my mind. I was totally surprised at how she made her appearance. To have her be the victim brought a wonderful new group of characters to the story. Her assistant, her son, her ex-husband and more. So many likely suspects all with the motive to cause her icy demise.
Ms. Logan plotted this story out with knife-like precision. Twists and turns with a real mystery not only of “whodunit” but why they “dunit”. Laurel has a heck of a time figuring this one out even after she ends up out cold and headed to the hospital. I was totally in the dark until the very end. I love the way all the suspects were brought together for the grand reveal.
I did enjoy how the events in the story allowed Laurel to look back at her life in California and even back to being a foster child. This made it possible to really open herself up to opportunities that were staring her right in the face.
This is an excellent addition to this series. The way the final pages are written I am sad to say I think this is the last book in this series which really upsets me. These are characters I am not ready to say goodbye to and there are so many more countries to visit for ethnic eats. I really hope I am wrong.
I highly recommend all three books in this series!
The Terminal at the Tracks diner is featuring Italian food this month, and Laurel is thrilled with how popular the choice has been on the first night. However, she returns home to find that it has been trashed. Nothing appears to be taken, but someone was searching for something. Before she can figure out what they were looking for, she makes an even worse discovery, the body of mega movie star Meghan in the freezer down at the diner. Laurel has had no contact with Meghan for the past year since Meghan fired her. What was she doing in town? And how did she come to die in the freezer?
The mystery is great with a steady stream of clues, surprises, and red herrings to keep us guessing until the end. Laurel also gets a chance to reflect on her life then versus now, and the growth we see in her is wonderful. There are only a few series regulars, but it is fun to spend time with them again. The suspects are strong and do a great job of keeping us guessing until the end.