A young chef bites off more than she can chew when she returns to her Alaskan hometown to take over her parents’ diner. When Chef Charlotte “Charlie” Cooke was offered the chance to leave San Francisco and return home to Elkview, Alaska, and take over her mother’s diner, she didn’t even consider saying no. For the past year, she’s built a comfortable existence, spending her days making sure the … making sure the restaurant runs smoothly and that her cat, Eggs Benedict, is appropriately pampered. But soon life at the diner starts feeling a little one-note.
Determined to bring fresh life and flavors to the Bear Claw Diner, Charlie starts planning changes to the menu, which has grown stale over the years. But her plans are fried when her head chef, Oliver turns up dead after a bitter and public fight over Charlie’s ideas—leaving Charlie as the prime suspect.
With her career, freedom, and life all on thin ice, Charlie must find out who the real killer is, before it’s too late.
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Overall I enjoyed reading this cozy mystery. Charlie has taken over her parent’s Diner in Elkview, Alaska. When the chef is found murdered she sets out to solve the crime. A local journalist and her mother also decide to help. I am not familiar with Alaska but the author did a very good job with capturing the flavor of small town Alaska with a few side trips to Anchorage. The mystery was OK. It was easy to solve. I liked the setting and the characters better than the mystery. While the cat does play a big role in the mystery I did feel she was a bit obsessive. I hope this is toned down in the next book. There are recipes in the back Enjoy this fun diner cozy.
Dollycas’s Thoughts.
North to Elkview, Alaska, and the Bear Claw Diner. Chef Charlie Cooke has left San Fran behind to come home to manage her mother’s restaurant. She has many ideas for updating the menu but her head cook Oliver is not having it. When she proposes a change to their signature Bear Claw, he explodes and walks out. This is not the first time he has done that but it is the first time he doesn’t return. Turns out the man went and got himself murdered and because of the public tantrum Charlie is the prime suspect. With her entire life on the line, she knows she needs to find the real killer pronto!
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Growing up in a family diner I was so excited to read this and I am pleased to say Ms. Logan created great characters you could find in diners everywhere. The cooks, waitresses, families and truck drivers that come in to eat, and because this is set in Alaska tour groups that have come to see the sights. The core group of characters is just starting to develop but Charlie and her awesome cat, Eggs Benedict (Benny) are in clear focus. Charlie is smart, hardworking, and dedicated to her new life at the diner. She also is a true cat lover using technology to interact with Benny while she is at work. There also may a romance blooming for Charlie.
The author also served readers with a generous supply of humor. The state trooper, Trooper, and Charlie’s best friend Annie have their moments and are two characters I want to get to know better.
The mystery grabbed me right away. It did have twists but there was a whiplash twist the really caught me by surprise. I had the culprit in mind pretty early but I really didn’t have a good reason, something just didn’t ring true for me. As the story continued, my choice faltered but was soon clear, and the big reveal was so rewarding.
I have to mention the food, it sounds so good! Cherry Cheesecake Mousse may become a family staple in this house.
The Alaskan Diner Mystery Series is off to an excellent start. Great cozy characters, a well-plotted mystery set in frozen tundra of Alaska. I can’t wait for November when Fishing for Trouble will be released.
Mousse and Murder by Elizabeth Logan has Charlotte “Charlie” Cooke running the Bear Claw Diner in Elkview, Alaska after her mother’s retirement. Charlie wants to add a chocolate bear claw to the menu, but it has head chef, Oliver Whitestone up in arms. They have a terrible row in front of customers and then Oliver storms off. Trooper Cory Graham arrives later in the day to question Charlie because Oliver was found dead near his home. Charlie is asked by her mother, Evelyn to work with Trooper Graham to uncover Oliver’s killer. Mousse and Murder is the debut novel in An Alaskan Diner Mystery series. I thought it was unique to set a cozy mystery in Alaska. I enjoyed the descriptions of Elkview which is a small Alaskan tourist town. I thought the author captured the Alaskan weather and lifestyle including the wildlife ingredients they utilize (like moose meat). Charlie is a warm and likeable main character. She works hard, is a good friend and daughter, and a cat lover. Charlie knows trivia and fun facts about Alaska. It was enjoyable learning more about our fiftieth state. Charlie grew up in the town and is known by the locals. Her best friend, Annie Jensen owns Jensen’s Elkview Inn. I like how Charlie uses technology to interact with her cat, Eggs Benedict aka Benny during the workday. She can talk to Benny, see how the cat is doing, how much he has eaten, and even play with Benny using a laser. It is cute that she confides in Benny. There is a diverse cast of secondary characters from Trooper Graham, Chris Doucette, Annie, diner staff, and diner regulars. Oliver’s murder had a small handful of suspects, good clues and a red herring or two. I would have liked to have gotten to know Oliver before he was murdered. While I was able to identify the killer early in the story, I did not know why. I joined Charlie and her friends as they set out to learn the who and, most importantly, the why. They did uncover some interesting information including something unexpected. I did have a couple of unanswered questions at the end of the book and I wish they had been addressed. Mousse and Murder is a carefree cozy mystery with moose meatloaf, a cavorting cat, suspicious siblings, a cold climate, and pleasing pastries.
Synopsis:
A young chef might bite off more than she can chew when she returns to her Alaskan hometown to take over her parents’ diner in this charming first installment in a new cozy mystery series set in an Alaskan tourist town.
When Chef Charlie Cooke is offered the chance to leave San Francisco and return home to Elkview, Alaska, to take over her mother’s diner, she doesn’t even consider saying no. After all–her love life has recently become a Love Life Crumble, and a chance to reconnect with her roots may be just what she needs.
Determined to bring fresh life and flavors to the Bear Claw Diner, Charlie starts planning changes to the menu, which has grown stale over the years. But her plans are fried when her head cook Oliver turns up dead after a bitter and public fight over Charlie’s ideas–leaving Charlie as the only suspect in the case.
With her career, freedom, and life all on thin ice, Charlie must find out who the real killer is, before it’s too late. (Goodreads)
Review:
The characters are well developed and well rounded. Charlie knows that she is in trouble, she got in a fight with her head chef and shortly thereafter, he is dead. She is a prime suspect but she knows that she did not do it. She has to help the troopers figure out the real culprit or she is going away for a long time. I thought the relationship between Charlie and Chris was based on friendship and I am looking forward to seeing if it develops into anything else. The secondary characters added a lot to the story. Benny, Charlie’s cat, stole the show.
The writing style flows smoothly and the book is a quick read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and these descriptions pulled me into the story from the very beginning. The mystery was well plotted and there were enough clues to sift through and suspects to consider. I had a few people I did consider, including the actual culprit, but I was not sure of the why.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Berkley Publishing Group, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.
Charlie Cooke has returned to her hometown of Elkview, Alaska, to take over her mom’s diner. She wants to make changes to the menu, but her chef is completely against it and two get into a heated argument. When he is found dead a few hours later, she immediately becomes the main suspect. Charlie becomes determined to find the real killer and teams up with local journalist and former classmate, Chris Doucette. Together, they uncover some shocking secrets about the chef Charlie thought she knew.
This is the first book in Elizabeth Logan’s An Alaskan Diner Mystery series. I thought it was a solid start to a new series. I loved the rural, wintry Alaska setting, and the diner atmosphere. Our main character, Charlie, is easy to like. She’s witty, hardworking, family-oriented, and a great boss. I really liked the chemistry between her and Chris and thought they made a great sleuthing team. I would love to see their flirty banter develop into something more. I also liked Annie, Tropper, and Charlie’s mom. The mystery was interesting and kept me guessing throughout the story. I was unable to figure out the culprit’s identity, so the reveal came as a surprise to me. I loved the role Charlie’s cat, Eggs Benedict, played in taking down the killer. Overall, this was a light, enjoyable mystery and I look forward to the second book.
Thank you to Edelweiss and Berkley Publishing Group for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I took a trip to Alaska many years ago and love that this book is set there. The characters were wonderful especially the cat. Looking forward to the next one.
Fun in Alaska–and recipes, too!
Charlie Cooke has just come home from California back to Alaska to take over running her mother’s diner. She jumped on the opportunity to come home after a relationship disaster, hoping to find solace and strength in her hometown. She was not counting on butting heads with her mom’s long-time head cook. Charlie wants to make changes and Oliver resists them every single time. There have been more than one heated argument between them since Charlie came home and took over. Their latest blow-up sent Oliver storming out of the diner. When the police show up in his stead, Charlie can’t even believe it when they tell her Oliver has been found dead. His death is suspicious and now Charlie is the prime suspect.
Mousse and Murder is a wonderful cozy mystery set in Alaska. The weather is cold but the arguments between Charlie and Oliver are heated. His death is a huge blow to the diner but it also brings to light several characters with means, motives, and opportunities to bump Oliver off. The path to discovering the real murderer is twisted and bumpy, leading Charlie in several directions that are dead-ends or just lead to more questions. Who actually was Oliver? Why did he end up in their Alaskan town, working for Charlie’s mom?
The book is full of surprises and twists in the plot the reader will never see coming. I was saddened during parts of the reveal for reasons you’ll have to read the book to find out. No spoilers here. The author does a great job with the mystery, the character development, and providing the reader vivid imagery allowing the story to played out like a movie as you read along. The book also has some pretty amazing characters, ones I will definite enjoy learning more about in the next installment of the series.
Mousse and Murder is the first in the Alaskan Diner cozy mystery series and it was a fun exciting read. I really loved the setting being in Alaska, the small town community spirit that the characters have, the only thing was that we never got a chance to meet Oliver before his untimely death so I didn’t feel a strong connection with wanting to find out who did it, I didn’t have a clue who could have done it until one particular moment when something clicked and I thought ah ha! and it turns out my hunch was right.
As Charlie and her journalist friend Chris investigate Oliver’s death, they discover things they never knew about him and his life, which leads Charlie to questions how much really know of her employees at the cafe.
I think this is going to great little cozy mystery series and I can’t wait to see what is story for Charlie and sleepy Elkview ,Alaska.
Really enjoyed this first book in the new series set in a diner in Alaska. Interesting characters and plot. I’m looking forward to the next one.
Mousse and Murder is set in the charming fictional town of Elkview, Alaska. Reading about Alaska is probably as close as I’ll ever get to our 49th state, so I live vicariously through characters who live there. Books and television shows, like Northern Exposure, have made me want to live in Alaska, but then I remember how much I despise being cold! I’ll stick to the books, TV and movies!
I really enjoyed reading Mousse and Murder and not just for the delightful setting. The main characters are well developed, and I even felt that I was at least acquainted with the side characters.
I love Charlie because she is a good friend, a good daughter, and a good boss. She’s got a stubborn streak, but don’t we all? I admire her determination even though it gets her into some sticky predicaments. One of those sticky predicaments is that she is very briefly considered a suspect in the murder of her diner’s head chef. She and Oliver have butted heads in the past…and right before he’s murdered.
Chris, a local journalist, went to high school with Charlie, but they lost touch over the years. He is after a good story, but when he and Charlie start investigating the murder, they start to become close. He is funny, thoughtful, smart, and kind. What’s not to love?
Annie (Charlie’s BFF), Trooper (yep, he’s a state trooper), and Charlie’s mom are also great characters. Annie talks a lot, Trooper actually accepts help from people (since Alaska has so few police officers), and Charlie’s mom is a loving homebody.
Though you might think you know whodunit, beware of red herrings. I really enjoyed this cozy mystery and can’t wait to visit Elkview, Alaska again!
MOUSSE AND MURDER by Elizabeth Logan
The First Alaskan Diner Mystery
Charlie Cooke is used to having blowout fights with her chef. She’s also used to him storming out after such blowups. But he’s never wound up dead after an argument…until now. Teaming up with Chris, the good looking local journalist, Charlie decides to look into the life of her chef, who she discovers she really didn’t know, and she if she can help find out who killed him.
MOUSSE AND MURDER introduces readers to an interesting cast of characters whose lives revolve around a small Alaskan town’s diner. Charlotte “Charlie” Cooke has a lot to prove and a good deal to learn. Having taken over her mom’s diner she discovers she really doesn’t know her employees or how to deal with the long time chef with the French culinary credits. She also has a bit of a temper and can make more than one quick assumption. However, her willingness to admit her faults and try to learn from her mistakes makes her likable. There’s also the romantic interest journalist, who is eager almost to a fault, and the solid state trooper. Although somewhat formulaic, the characters have enough personality to engage readers, even the flighty best friend and the workers who engage in diner lingo. I love Charlie’s interactions Benny (short for Eggs Benedict, both of which are great names) who she cares for now that her mom is traveling. The app so she can check in and play with him while at work gives a modern touch and shows how technology can change pet interactions!
MOUSSE AND MURDER is an enjoyable introduction to a new mystery series.
FTC Disclosure – The publisher sent me a digital ARC provided through NetGalley, in the hopes I would review it.
Another great cozy mystery from the prolific pen of Camille Minichino, this time writing as Elizabeth Logan.
*I received a free copy of this book which I voluntarily chose to write an honest review for.
Fun start to a new cozy series. We meet Charlie as she runs her family owned finer in a small town in Alaska of all places. The setting provides ample opportunity to work in scenic bits that sound quite awesome while still highlighting the weather extremes. She suggests a small recipe twerk to the long time chef only for him to pick a fight causing a huge argument between them before he stormed out. Busy with the diner he wasn’t too concerned when he never returned but a late visit from the Sheriff proves she should have been because now he has been murdered. As one of the prime suspects she starts investigating with the help of a reporter friend. The two make quite the pair as they try figure things out but over time the risks escalate until Charlie finds herself in danger. A fun cozy full of quirky characters in an enthralling setting that keeps you guessing as it all plays out making it hard to put down. Perfect for cozy fans. I totally loved it so I give it 5/5 stars.
Mousse and Murder earns 5/5 Sweet Bear Claws…Entertaining Fun!
Small town, Alaska, a family diner, an innovative chef, and…murder? Elizabeth Logan, a new-to-me author, has penned a well-written, delightful first-in-a-series cozy with clever predicaments, endearing lead, quirky two- and four-legged support, and a fascinating look at the setting and history of Alaska. It’s been a year since Charlotte “Charlie” Cooke left San Francisco and a cheating fiancé to return home to Elkview, Alaska, and take over her mother’s restaurant, the Bear Claw Diner, which included the staff, signature recipes, regular patrons, and an orange tabby named Eggs Benedict (Benny, for short). She’s trained in the culinary arts and tries to reenergize the diner and its menu, but the latest falderal with Oliver Whitestone, the longtime head cook, is over a chocolate bear claw recipe. Ripping up the paper into little pieces and muttering something akin to “over my dead body,” he walks off the job. She’ll regret that heated argument when Oliver ends up murdered, and she’s now a person of interest. She’s not one to stay in the kitchen, the local state trooper recognizes Charlie and other residents are valuable to keeping the peace, or in this case finding a killer. Charlie also partners with Chris Doucette, local journalist and former classmate, uncovering surprising secrets that just might have lead to a motive for murder. The final reveal was a satisfying surprise, well worth investing my time! Put on your apron for these two easy-to-follow favorites from the Bear Claw Diner: Cherry Cheesecake Mousse (I love cherries!) and Moose Meatloaf (might not find moose meat, so you might have to improvise). But, no sharing of the signature Bear Claw recipe!
Alaska is near the top of my travel bucket list, so I always love traveling there vicariously on the pages of a good book. There aren’t a ton of books set there, though, so whenever I find one that looks halfway interesting I snatch it up. Mousse and Murder did not disappoint, and I’m looking forward to more books in this series!
Along with spotlighting the beauty and quirks of Alaska & its residents, Mousse and Murder introduces an intriguing murder mystery and an equally intriguing cast of characters to match. I really liked Charlotte (“Charlie”) and the narrative from her perspective. Her cat-cam cracked me up, and Benny the cat lived up well to his role as the loyal pet. The romantic potential between Charlotte and Chris-the-reporter was light enough to not annoy readers who don’t want any lovey-dovey stuff in their cozy mysteries but present enough to appease readers like me who think any story is better with a little romance. Trooper steals the show, however, in my opinion. The somewhat-crusty-but-also-wryly-hilarious state police officer is definitely my fave recurring cast member so far.
The mystery itself seems to be fairly straightforward at first but in fact has many different layers once all is said and done. The more that Charlie & Chris uncover about Oliver, the more suspects come to light. And while I figured it out before they did, it was still well-plotted and cleverly-crafted.
Bottom Line: Cute and well-layered, Mousse and Murder is a great start to a new cozy mystery series! Trooper is hands down my favorite character but all of the main cast members are easily likable. Including Benny the wonder cat! The mystery gets more complicated at every turn, with new dimensions – and new suspects – and the barest hint of potential romance adds other layers too. Engaging & entertaining, Mousse and Murder belongs on every cozy mystery fan’s to read list!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
I hope this is the beginning of a new series. This is also a new to me author. I enjoyed the story line and the characters. It’s always hard for a new boss to come in, especially if her employees have been there forever. Some of you can probably relate to that situation, whether you were the boss or the employee. It doesn’t help if there are tempers involved. Why would Charlie think this disagreement with Oliver would be any different than the others? This just goes to show, you never know. Join Trooper, Charlie, Chris, Annie, Benny and gang as they work through the obstacles and clues to find out who had it out for their friend. I hope I get to make another trip to Alaska to hang with these folks. I won this book from Goodreads, but my opinion is my own.
I always enjoy the anticipation of starting a new cozy series. To find out if the characters will become friends that I want to continue getting to know, to read about a new setting or hobby, and to see if I can solve the mystery before it’s resolved. Mousse and Murder by Elizabeth Logan (pen name for Camille Minichino, who writes a bunch of other cozy series under various names) really had the description and history of Alaska going on, but as for the characters and mystery, not so much.
I did really enjoy getting to know Alaska more and to read the beautiful descriptions of the state. Although sometimes, it felt like Logan was just listing facts about Alaska and not incorporating it into the book seamlessly. And the diner, along with the recipes and diner lingo, was another great addition to the cozy. I also really enjoyed the cat, Benny, and how Charlie had her house set up electronically to interact with Benny throughout the day. I thought this detail was spot on for so many people and their pets with the work heavy life many people lead.
As far as the characters go, they were nice people, but no one really stood out to me as someone I would want to befriend or even get to know more. And the workers at the diner didn’t really have much to differentiate them from each other. They were all just there, being nice and taking over running the diner when Charlie was off chasing clues.
I did really like that the sheriff deputized Charlie and a few more characters (even if it is farfetched), instead of the local law enforcement continually telling the main character to stay out of the investigation. And I also liked that Charlie’s mom and friends were encouraging and helped investigate. It gets old fast when everyone is constantly nagging on the sleuth to stop sleuthing!
As far as the mystery itself went, I thought it was very easy to figure out the murderer, even though I only had half of the motivation correct. Logan does leave some red herrings laying around and gives the reader a couple of twists, which is always welcomed in a murder mystery. If it had just been the easy to figure out mystery alone, I would have given the book a higher rating, but with none of the characters really engaging me, I can’t.
I would try book two in An Alaskan Diner Mystery series, Fishing for Trouble, which comes out November 2020, to see if the characters get more depth to them, and to read more about Alaska, the diner, and Benny.
I am an avid fan of cozy mysteries and this one caught my attention because it was set in Alaska and I haven’t noticed too many books in this genre that take place in that setting. I enjoyed the characters of Charlie, Chris, and the rest secondary cast. Charlie is likable and there is a fun bit of flirtation that takes place between her and Chris. That said, I thought there could have been a bit more character development in this first book.
For me, I found the pace to be too slow and not enough in the mystery that grabbed me. As a reader, we didn’t get a chance to really know Oliver, the victim, so I was all that invested in the identity of his killer. There were plenty of clues provided throughout the story and a nice twist regarding Oliver’s parentage. As for the identity of the killer, it was not all that difficult for me to figure out, I just didn’t know the motive. And for those who read my reviews, I am not really all that good at determining whodunit.
For me, this had likable characters and a different setting, but the slow pace, lack of character development and ease of solving the mystery was enough that I will probably not be back for more books in the series.
I voluntarily read a digital advanced reader copy that I downloaded from Edelweiss Books.