Not even her impending nuptials can keep Lucy Berberian, manager of her family-owned Kebab Kitchen, from the Jersey Shore’s annual Polar Bear Plunge. But her dive into the icy ocean is especially chilling when she finds a fellow swimmer doing the dead man’s float—for real . . . Who would kill a man in cold blood during Ocean Crest, New Jersey’s most popular winter event? When Lucy learns the … Jersey’s most popular winter event? When Lucy learns the victim is Deacon Spooner, the reception hall owner who turned up his nose—and his price—at her wedding plans, she can’t help wondering who wouldn’t kill the pompous caterer . . .
Perhaps the culprit is the wedding cake baker whose career Deacon nearly destroyed? Or the angry bride whose reception he ruined? With her maid of honor, Katie, busily planning Lucy’s wedding without her, Lucy will have to get to the bottom of this cold-hearted business in time for Kebab Kitchen’s mouthwatering Christmas celebration—and before her hometown’s holiday spirit washes out to sea . . .
Recipes included!
“With a warm cast of characters and an ingenious main character, this is a series that will prove delightful for cozy fans.”
—Parkersburg News & Sentinel on Stabbed in the Baklava
“Clever and charming . . . A culinary delight that will have readers salivating over the food and hungry for literary answers.”
—RT Book Reviews, 4 Stars, on Hummus and Homicide
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Mistletoe, Moussaka & Murder is the fifth title in the Kebab Kitchen Mystery series. Although I have not read the previous stories in this series (I will be going back for them in the near future) I wasn’t lost in this story and anything that I really needed to know from the previous events could be found in the narrative or the dialogue. I wasn’t lost but I do wish I’d found the time to get caught up first… time, never enough of it.
Lucy and her best friend, Katie are deep in wedding plans (at least, Katie is) and getting ready for the annual Polar Bear Plunge, the proceeds of which will benefit the work needed at the local senior center. It’s all in fun, freezing, and a good cause… until a very nasty, disliked, and rude man apparently drowns during the event. But it’s soon obvious that this was no accident and another of Lucy’s friends is the prime suspect. There is no way that Lucy believes for one minute that her friend did this, so it’s time to dust off the investigative skills and track down a killer.
I had fun with Mistletoe, Moussaka & Murder even though I was catching up on some background that should have been familiar. Still, I got to experience Lucy’s family who originally ran the restaurant and still works there, her adorable soon-to-be husband, and even a flirtatious landlady who has her eye on Lucy’s man… in a totally flirty, not home-wrecking way. And food. I swear I gained 5 pounds just reading this book because, of course, I got the munchies for some moussaka myself. I had a couple of strong suspects, but I rarely read a Cozy Mystery to be the first to point out the killer, I enjoy the lead up to the reveal and the background story perhaps even more than solving the murder. This story kept me on my toes while enjoying an adorable cast of characters (for the most part). I will definitely be going back to the beginning in 2021. If you love a good Cozy Mystery with food, friends, and an enjoyable experience, then you’ll want to check this one out soon.
*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher, Kensington Books via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*
This is an entertaining holiday addition to this series. At the heart, this series is about family and being 1/2 Italian and 1/4 Irish/Scottish I can certainly relate to a loud, passionate family whose gatherings center around food. Lucy and her family remind me a lot of my own and that always adds to the entertainment. There is also a strong friendship between Lucy and Katie that is the type of friendship we all hope to have in our lives. That best friend that is always there for you. Lucy is such a warm, caring character and she is very relatable. Her relationship with Azad is coming along nicely, and I wouldn’t be surprised if we see a book in the near future centered around Lucy solving a mystery before she can walk down the aisle.
The mystery really kept me guessing in this installment. The victim was the type of person who had enemies and people were not sorry to see him go. There are plenty of suspects, with motives, but it was hard for me to pin down who I thought had the strongest motive and could commit the murder. In the end, I was surprised at the identity of the killer and how Lucy stumbled across this person’s identity.
I will definitely be back for more. This is such an entertaining series and I always finish a book having enjoyed the journey and looking forward to the next visit.
I voluntarily read a digital advanced reader copy provided to me by the publisher, Kensington, through Netgalley. The opinions are my own.
Very enjoyable! It’s Christmas time at the Jersey Shore and Lucy and her friend, Katie, are preparing to do the polar bear plunge. Before that happens, Katie and Lucy go visit a local reception hall to check it out for the township holiday party and Lucy’s wedding reception. The owner is charging a ridiculous price and is very rude. The day of the polar bear plunge, Deacon Spooner, the owner of the reception hall, is drowned. Lucy and Katie start investigating after local bakery owner, Susan, is looked at as the prime suspect. Other suspects include a disgruntled bride, Deacon’s nephew, Deacon’s business partner, and a man with a gambling problem who had stolen cash from Deacon. Lucy becomes frustrated as the evidence seems to point to Susan and she is working to plan her wedding to Azad. Lots of interesting turns in the case with a surprising killer and Gadoo the cat saving the day. I love these characters and seeing how Lucy has really grown since returning to Ocean Crest. I look forward to seeing what’s next for Lucy and her family and friends!!
Another delightful addition to the Kebab Kitchen Mystery series! Lucy is up to her freezing cold elbows in a diabolical murder committed during the annual Polar Bear Plunge to benefit the local senior center. On top of that, she’s being pressured to set a wedding date–and she still has to manage the Kebab Kitchen! This series just keeps getting better with every installment, and the characters have nestled their way right into my heart. A great read all around, and a series I will continue to follow.
Tina Kashian’s Kebab Kitchen series is so fun to read – I love the characters and the setting, and Ms. Kashian can always be counted on to craft an engaging mystery! It’s Christmastime and all should be right with the world, but unfortunately someone has decided to take the joy out of the season and murder an Ocean Crest resident during the Polar Plunge. When Lucy’s friend, Susan, is accused of the dastardly deed, she and bestie Katie don their (figurative) deerstalkers to solve the crime! A+++
Lucy is one of those characters that you either like or you don’t like her at all. When I first started reading this series, she wasn’t my favorite. However, in Mistletoe, Moussaka, and Murder it would be difficult for readers not to like and enjoy getting to know Lucy. With this Christmas addition to the culinary based series, readers will cement their friendship with Lucy and the other cast members.
Christmas in Ocean Crest is cold, snowy, and fun. Between cooking delicious meals, participating in local holiday events, and planning her upcoming nuptials, Lucy has her hands full. But when she takes part in the holiday polar bear plunge and finds a body floating in the surf, she adds a murder investigation to her list of things to do. Food brings people together, and Lucy’s culinary skills are improving tremendously, so it doesn’t take long to hear on the grapevine that a few too many people disliked the victim.
Suspects come out of the corners, and some seem to have great motives for wanting the victim dead, including a disgruntled former bride, a business partner, and several business people. Twists have more than one meaning in this sometimes bazaar Christmas story, but they all move the story towards its ultimate end. The killer could be a surprise to many but not everyone. I enjoyed the way the author mixed in all of the action, wedding planning Lucy wasn’t really into, and family issues such as her parent’s constant bickering and the cooking. All of this combined to make Mistletoe, Moussaka, and Murder, a fun, easy read, with new recipes to delight culinary fans for the Christmas holidays.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Bundle up for this one. Lucy Berberian and her BFF Katie are taking part in the Polar Bear Plunge to raise money for the renovation of the Senior Center. They plunged into the frigid ocean waves along with about 40 other Ocean Crest residents and business owners and it did not go swimmingly. One plunger didn’t make it out alive. Reception hall co-owner Deacon Spooner’s dead body washed up on the beach from an apparent drowning. It wasn’t the chill in the air and water that took the man down, no, it was MURDER and one of Lucy’s friends is the prime suspect. Wedding cake baker Susie Cutie had a beef with the man but would she murder him? Lucy doesn’t think so. She met the man once and while not wishing him dead, she couldn’t stand him. He must have pushed someone else over the edge. She just needs to find out who . . .
Mistletoe, Moussaka, and Murder is the 5th book in the series and the characters feel like old friends. Lucy and Asad are now engaged to be married and Kate is trying her best to get Lucy’s wedding planning on track like any good Matron of Honor would do. Her parents, Angela and Raffi, now retired still help out at the restaurant when needed and Lucy’s cooking lessons with her mom continue. It’s the holiday season so all of them are making plans for the Christmas party at the Kebab Kitchen for all the Ocean Crest merchants. These characters are so genuine and engaging, people I would like to meet and spend more time with. I grew up in a family-run restaurant business and everything sans the murders rings true to life. I am also loving the relationship between Lucy and her landlord Eloisa, her infatuation with Azad, and the way he handles it is so funny.
Ms. Kashian has a great descriptive writing style. She takes us to the Jersey Shore with its snow-covered sand, the frigid temperatures of the ocean, the sound of a band playing under the boardwalk, the food at the Kabab Kitchen, a lovely Victorian B&B, and more. The food, moussaka to cupcakes and pies, the party attire, and a certain wedding dress are so easy to visualize.
The murder mystery was very well-plotted. Deacon Spooner was not a nice man so there were several viable suspects. I had pared down my guesses to two when the tension really picks up. The big reveal was very exciting and Yes! one of my guesses turned out to be right!
I look forward to each and every visit to Ocean Crest, New Jersey. Lucy and her family never fail to keep me totally entertained. Mistletoe, Moussaka, and Murder sure didn’t disappoint. I enjoyed every bit of this story. Will the next book include a wedding? I can’t wait to find out!
I enjoy reading cozy mysteries, and I like to sample various series & authors to make sure I’m not missing out on a new fave. But there are some current faves that I follow most closely and am always thrilled when a new book comes out. Tina Kashian’s Kebab Kitchen Mysteries is one such series, and I also love that I’ve been with it from book one (even the cover reveal haha!). I enjoy all of the characters, the setting, the plots, the romance, the humor, the writing style, and of course the delicious food served up at the Kebab Kitchen!
Mistletoe, Moussaka, and Murder is a delightful addition to the series. Lucy is such a great protagonist, and her relationships with the various supporting characters are layered and engaging. I especially enjoy her interactions with her fiance Azad, her best friend Katie, and her landlady Eloise (who is a hoot!). Beyond the mystery that gives the book its framework, the heart of this series is family – the one you’re born into and the one you assemble around you as you go through life. Kashian does a marvelous job of blending both dimensions to this story so that the relationships don’t take away from the cozy mystery feel, and vice versa. It makes for an engrossing read from start to finish.
Another thing that makes this series a fave for me is that the culprit isn’t as obvious as it can sometimes be in the cozy genre. More often than not, when reading a Kebab Kitchen Mystery, I’m stumped as to whodunit. Yet after the reveal it all makes sense & I feel like I should have seen it all along. Mistletoe, Moussaka, and Murder does it again, and I think this time I was more clueless than usual. Very well-plotted & perfectly executed (if such a word is permitted when discussing a murder mystery lol)
Bottom Line: Mistletoe, Moussaka, and Murder is a feast for the senses – yummy food to make your mouth water, sea breezes to appease the beach lovers among us, the sights & sounds & aromas of a bustling boardwalk, family, friends, humor, heart, and a puzzling mystery to unravel. Kashian creates dynamic characters and layered plots, and readers will find her writing voice delightful and appealing. Another great adventure with Lucy & crew!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
MISTLETOE, MOUSSAKA, & MURDER by Tina Kashian
The Fifth Kebab Kitchen Murder
With a lot of community spirit and with the benefit of the senior citizen center in mind Lucy Berberian and her best friend Katie are braving the December cold and participating in the town’s polar plunge. Almost all of the Ocean Crest merchants are represented, even Deacon Spooner, the unpleasant reception hall owner. The pair are chilled to the bone from their icy dip, but chilled even more when Deacon’s lifeless body is found on the shore. It wasn’t a heart attack, someone drowned the man in broad daylight, with most of the town present!
Winter on the boardwalk is a different kind of wonderful. I can barely imagine snow and sand combined. What’s not as hard to imagine is Lucy getting involved in another murder! The fifth Kebab Kitchen mystery has Lucy perplexed. Despite her quiet digging, she can’t figure out the latest murder, until she quite literally walks into the answer. There is some brilliant foreshadowing here. In one case it was the complete antithesis!
I love the relationships between all of the characters and the verisimilitude of the setting. Detailed descriptions make me feel that I’m right there with Lucy and her friends and family. Lucy’s hesitancy regarding her upcoming nuptials is honest, as is her love for Azad. I also smile at the relationship between Lucy’s parents, especially when celebrity Chef Kurt is involved. As for Gadoo, I want to cuddle him and give him lots of extra treats!
MISTLETOE, MOUSSAKA, & MURDER is a heartfelt family mystery that combines good food and the warmth of community against the backdrop of cold blooded murder.
FTC Disclosure – The publisher sent me a digital ARC provided through NetGalley, in the hopes I would review it.
Mistletoe, Moussaka, and Murder by Tina Kashian has Lucy Berberian gearing up for the holiday season at Kebab Kitchen. Lucy is participating in the Polar Bear Plunge with her best friend, Katie Watson because the proceeds are benefiting the local senior center. It is a madhouse when everyone hits the water which is a balmy 46 degrees and one man does not make it out alive. Deacon Spooner, co-owner of Sea View, was drowned. When Susan Cutie of Cutie’s Cupcakes is accused of the crime, Lucy sets out to prove the woman’s innocence. Mistletoe, Moussaka, and Murder can be read as a standalone if you are new to A Kebab Kitchen Mystery series. The book contains good writing and it is well plotted. I did find the pacing a little slow in places. There are lovely descriptions of the town decked out in all its holiday finery. Lucy has become engaged to Azad Zakarian, the head chef at Kebab Kitchen. It has not been announced publicly nor has Lucy set a date for the wedding. Her best friend, Katie is pushing Lucy to pick a venue, theme, dress, or perhaps a date. Lucy loves Azad, but there is something holding her back (they are meant for each other). Of course, Deacon Spooner’s pompous attitude and high prices did not help matters. When Susan Cutie becomes the prime suspect in Deacon Spooner’s death, Lucy with her trusty sidekick, Katie begins asking questions. There are a few suspects since Spooner was not a nice man. I picked out who I thought was the guilty party early in the book and then waited to see if I was right. There are good clues to help readers solve the whodunit. There is, of course, plenty of food talk in Mistletoe, Moussaka, and Murder. There are four recipes at the end for lemon meringue pie, Perfect Pilaf, holiday pretzel treats, and Azad’s moussaka. Mistletoe, Moussaka, and Murder is a cheery cozy mystery with holiday house hop, matrimonial machinations, Christmas cheer, a polar plunge, seashells, seagulls, and snow.
Mistletoe, Moussaka and Murder
Kebab Kitchen Mystery, Book #5
Tina Kashian
5 Stars
Synopsis:
Not even her impending nuptials can keep Lucy Berberian, manager of her family-owned Kebab Kitchen, from the Jersey Shore’s annual Polar Bear Plunge. But her dive into the icy ocean is especially chilling when she finds a fellow swimmer doing the dead man’s float–for real . . .
Who would kill a man in cold blood during Ocean Crest, New Jersey’s most popular winter event? When Lucy learns the victim is Deacon Spooner, the reception hall owner who turned up his nose–and his price–at her wedding plans, she can’t help wondering who wouldn’t kill the pompous caterer . . .
Perhaps the culprit is the wedding cake baker whose career Deacon nearly destroyed? Or the angry bride whose reception he ruined? With her maid of honor, Katie, busily planning Lucy’s wedding without her, Lucy will have to get to the bottom of this cold-hearted business in time for Kebab Kitchen’s mouthwatering Christmas celebration–and before her hometown’s holiday spirit washes out to sea . . .
Recipes included!
“With a warm cast of characters and an ingenious main character, this is a series that will prove delightful for cozy fans.”
–Parkersburg News & Sentinel on Stabbed in the Baklava
“Clever and charming . . . A culinary delight that will have readers salivating over the food and hungry for literary answers.”
–RT Book Reviews, 4 Stars, on Hummus and Homicide (Amazon)
Review:
The characters are well rounded and well rounded. Lucy and Katie agree to doing a Polar Bear Plunge to benefit the renovations for the senior center. It will be easy, in and out of the frigid water, all for a good cause. What’s not so easy is the dead body that is found floating in the water. Now Lucy and Katie have to find who killed Deacon, the reception hall owner. Between the two of them, along with Lucy’s landlord, Eloisa, they will have their work cut out for them. Eloisa is a fiesty senior citizen and brings a lot of humor to the story.
The author is very talented in her descriptive writing, and through most of the book,I felt like I was right there, watching all the action taking place, whether it was plunging into the ocean or checking out wedding venues. The writing style flows smoothly and the book is a quick easy read. The mystery was well plotted and not that easy to solve. I thought I had it figured out but I was wrong!!!!
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. Maybe the next book will have the wedding.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Kensington Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.
Mistletoe, Moussaka, and Murder is an engaging cozy mystery. The mystery and investigation are interesting, and Lucy as well as her family and friends are fun and quirky as always. I love the Kebab Kitchen family restaurant setting and the food references. Recommended for fans of cozy mysteries and culinary cozies.
Mistletoe, Moussaka, and Murder by Tina Kashian is book five in the Kebab Kitchen Mystery series. This is the first of this series for me but it will not be the last.
Lucy’s BF Katie is pushing her to get a venue for her wedding and schedules an tour at a local reception hall. Once there, it’s decided it’s not for Lucy, the manager comes across as a jerk. So it’s a huge surprise to both when he is a participant in the annual Polar Bear Plunge. What is a surprise is he found dead and it’s not an accident. Someone held him under water. When one of Lucy’s friends becomes the top suspect, Lucy again starts her own investigation. But someone is not happy with Lucy. Will she be the next bride in Ocean Crest or the next victim?
There are suspects and plot twists that have you guessing to the end. Kashian has a nice mixture of characters, some made me laugh, There is family and friends. Of course, there is romance and humor. Recipes are also included.
I was given an ARC by Kensington and NetGalley for an honest review.
This is one of the best comfort reads on my list of ‘read this to relax and de-stress’ series. Boy am I glad my list is on the long side these days. Taking a virtual trip to the Jersey Shore pre-Christmas should be fun, right? Lucy is planning her wedding and she, along with her best friend, Katie, go take a look at a possible venue for the reception. Katie is also interested in the location for the upcoming town Christmas event. They turn around and leave when they have an unpleasant encounter with one of the owners of the business. That should have been the end of things but it only gets worse. Lucy and many of her friends join the annual Polar Bear Plunge which ends with the very dead body of the unpleasant caterer very dead. At first glance it seems to be drowning but soon the police declare it a homicide and Lucy’s friend, Susan, is placed at the top of the list of suspects. She won’t stay there is Lucy has anything to say about it. Let the investigating begin.
The list of people who weren’t unhappy that he’s dead is long enough to keep Lucy puzzled as to the real killer. The twists, turns and red herrings kept me engaged from start to finish. Each character was well developed and Lucy’s relationships with her family and friends were what we all wish we had. This was the perfect reading escape.
My thanks to the publisher Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
This is the first book in the Kebab Kitchen series that I read but I enjoyed it so much I’ve already got the others in my TBR pile. While it is the fifth in the series, it does very well as a standalone. Loved the protagonist and her family and friends, they added much to my enjoyment.
I could relate to this book-my parents were immigrants from a Balkan country and the foods described are family favorites!
The mystery was well done. The story moved along well and there were plenty of folks with potential motives. Kept me guessing until the end.
Received an ARC from NetGalley and Kensington but the opinions expressed are my own.
A Kebab Kitchen Mystery Series is one of my favorite series. I love the characters in it. The wonderful food that I can practically smell while reading about it, the family, the friends. *sigh* It all comes together so beautifully. When I read the books in this series it feels like I am there. Tina Kashian never fails to transport me away from my troubles. This series is like comfort food except in book form.
Mistletoe, Moussaka and Murder was just what I needed to read. This year has been a rocky one for everyone. I had been having a struggle with concentration. I switched to darker reading to match my feelings. Then I was gifted an ecopy of this book for review consideration. I didn’t even know how much I needed old friends, wedding talk, a Christmas party and a murder. Reading this book, being transported far away, truly lifted my soul. I was so happy to see Lucy examine her feelings and accept them. It was delightful when she spoke to her mom about her plans. I laughed out loud picturing it. I swear, that was my favorite scene in the book! The dead body? Yes, there is one. Wait until you read about that! I won’t talk much about it as you really need to figure it out yourself. There are a number of potential murderers. The reveal was a heart pounder for sure. I am already anticipating the next book. Will there be a wedding soon? If Katie and Lucy’s Mom have anything to say about it the answer is most definitely! Give yourself a gift and get a copy of this book. We can all use some Christmas spirit now.
*I received an ecopy of this book for review consideration. Thank you to Kensington Publishers, NetGalley and the Author for this opportunity. I voluntarily reviewed this book and all opinions are based on my enjoyment of the book.
Mistletoe, Moussaka, and Murder by Tina Kashian is a mystery that is so odd and severe to figure out.
Can Lucy figure out who killed Deacon Spooner?
Lucy Berberian is now engaged to the chef of her family’s restaurant, Azad Zakarian, and is working on her wedding. Granted, she and Azad haven’t picked a wedding date. It’s December in the novel, and it’s nearing to Christmas time. Lucy is loving the holiday time, figuring out wedding things, and sadly now solving a murder. She is still a great character, as in the other books that I have read of this series. I love Lucy as she is a great character, and I like what the author has done with her.
The Mystery
Lucy’s friend Susan Cutie is the prime suspect for the murder of Deacon Spooner. Deacon was killed during the Polar Bear Plunge as he was one of the Polar Bears. Sadly Susan wasn’t the only one that had the motive to kill Deacon, but I don’t think that she killed him much like Lucy. Except who would kill him at a public event with everyone watching? It’s a challenging mystery to try to figure it all out. I did get the killer but not his motive. Not only that, but who is dealing drugs with the high school students?
4 Stars
Mistletoe, Moussaka, and Murder by Tina Kashian is an excellent book. It seems as I can never figure out the motive for these books. I have to say that it is good for Ms. Kashian. Ms. Kashian does a great job on this series, and I am in love with the characters in this series. I am giving this novel four stars and recommending it to all culinary cozy mystery lovers out there and all who love a good holiday mystery.
Don’t forget to check out the recipes at the back of the book.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Great Escape 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 Mistletoe, Moussaka, and Murder by Tina Kashian.
Until the next time,
Karen the Baroness
If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out BaronessBookTrove.com.
Every December, Ocean Crest, New Jersey, hosts a polar bear plunge as a fund raiser, and this year it is raising money for a much-needed renovation for the senior center. Most of the businesses in the town are participating, and Lucy Berberian is representing her family’s Kebab Kitchen restaurant. As expected, the water is chilly, but all that is soon forgotten when the dead body of one of the participants washes ashore. At first everyone assumes that the shock of the cold water killed Deacon Spooner, but the medical examiners determines that it was murder. Lucy had recently met Deacon, and he wasn’t a nice man. When the police look at Lucy’s friend as their prime suspect, she can’t help but nose around. She uncovers plenty of motives and opportunity, but who actually killed the man?
The book starts out strong, but it loses its way, with very little forward movement and a sub-plot taking over as we near the climax. Fortunately, we do get a logical and suspenseful ending. The sub-plot, about Lucy dragging her feet planning her wedding, would have made sense if it had been weeks between books instead of months. Still, it did allow us to see some growth in Lucy and in her relationships, which I appreciated. The book isn’t overwhelming with Christmas, but it is there, and I enjoyed that aspect as well. We get four recipes at the end of the book to enjoy later. While the book could have been stronger, as a fan of the series, I’m glad I read it.
Enjoyed this book. Have read others and enjoyed them.
I love taking trips to the Jersey Shore and imagining this cozy touristy town with a boardwalk situated next to the beach. And of course, I imagine the food at Kebab Kitchen and can picture all of the deserts at Cutie’s Cupcakes. I think I might have gained a few pounds just reading this book, the recipes at the end sound divine.
Lucy is back on the case after a fellow polar bear plunge swimmer washes up dead. Who killed him? Why? Lucy is determined to discover the truth especially when her friend Susan of Cutie’s Cupcakes is arrested for the murder. There is no way Susan could have done it, but the evidence is stacked against her. Lucy tries to stay out of the situation but her instincts take over and she investigates with her best friend Katie.
From reading all of the other books in this series, the killer has been someone you would never expect. Perhaps they had a small role, or it just doesn’t seem like they have the motive. Well, in this case, my spidey sense went off and while I may not have known the why, I did figure out who the killer was but not until near the end. I was quite surprised to discover they why and that this character was willing to throw Susan or anyone else under the bus. But that is why this person is a criminal, they have no morals. There are several potential suspects, all with good reason to kill Deacon, but which one will it be?
Along with the mystery, there is also the relationship between Lucy and Azad. They dated when they were in college but events led them to break up. After some time, and her mother’s interference, these two have reconnected and are now engaged. Lucy has her concerns and has stalled on setting a date, but I think they cleared that hurdle in this book. I enjoy watching their relationship continue to blossom.
I enjoy this series and recommend it to everyone looking for a cozy with some good greek food. I want that hummus bar here in my town!
We give this book 5 paws up.