“A delectable read.” —Bestselling author Shelley Freydont Lucy Berberian has taken over her family’s Mediterranean restaurant on the Jersey Shore after an unsatisfying stint at a Philadelphia law firm. It’s great to be back in her old beach town, even if she’s turning into a seasoned sleuth . . . Catering a high-society wedding should bring in some big income for Kebab Kitchen—and raise its … should bring in some big income for Kebab Kitchen—and raise its profile too. But it’s not exactly good publicity when the best man winds up skewered like a shish kebab. Worse yet, Lucy’s ex, Azad—who’s the restaurant’s new head chef—is the prime suspect. But she doesn’t give a fig what the cops think. He may have killer looks, but he’s no murderer. She just needs to prove his innocence, before he has to go on the lamb . . .
Recipes included!
“Clever and charming . . . It’s 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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Lucy Berberian is taking over her family restaurant, even though she herself is no cook. Her ex boyfriend is the head chef and they are still finding their way to work together and remain friends, as they were long ago. Lucy’s mother is anxious for grandchildren and is hoping to get her daughter settled. Lucy is still trying to figure out her future.
It was not long ago that someone died in the restaurant That is never good for business.
Even though her parents want to retire, they are fighting every change Lucy wants to make.
The opportunity for some great publicity comes along when Lucy is hired to cater a high society wedding. This is larger than anything they have ever done before. All goes well until the end of the event, when the best man is discovered dead in the restaurant van.
Lucy has vowed not to get involved in another investigation, but can’t resist when the number one suspect is her head cook! Her best friend, who happens to be married to a cop, likes to encourage Lucy in the risky endeavor of “asking some simple questions.” We all know this won’t end well.
Tense yet fun, this second book in the series was entertaining to read. The motives and suspects are varied, secrets are revealed and Lucy has to escape personal endangerment once again.
Stabbed In The Baklava
Kebab Kitchen Mystery, Book #2
Tina Kashian
5 Stars
Synopsis:
Lucy Berberian has taken over her family’s Mediterranean restaurant on the Jersey Shore after an unsatisfying stint at a Philadelphia law firm. It’s great to be back in her old beach town, even if she’s turning into a seasoned sleuth . . .
Catering a high-society wedding should bring in some big income for Kebab Kitchen—and raise its profile too. But it’s not exactly good publicity when the best man winds up skewered like a shish kebab. Worse yet, Lucy’s ex, Azad—who’s the restaurant’s new head chef—is the prime suspect. But she doesn’t give a fig what the cops think. He may have killer looks, but he’s no murderer. She just needs to prove his innocence, before he has to go on the lamb . . (Goodreads)
Review:
The characters are well developed and well rounded. I love the relationship between Lucy and her family, you can tell they love each other and will do anything for each other. She does butt heads with them at times, but that happens in all families. I like the time that she spend with her best friend, Katie, and the fact that they get into all kinds of mischief, all in the name of crime solving. You never know what they will do next. Lucy has two men interested in her, and I am not sure which man she will pick (although I know who I want her to pick). I just hope she makes a decision soon, I am not a fan of love triangles.
The writing style flows smoothly and defines the characters very clearly through their actions and words. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing without getting too wordy. I felt like I was right there on the Jersey shore, watching all of the action taking place and enjoying the aromas of the restaurant.
The mystery is well plotted and carries on well throughout the entire book. There were enough suspects to consider and clues to sift through, and when you add in the plenty of twists and turns it is not easy to solve. And that is how I like my mysteries.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. It has everything that I look for in a cozy: engaging characters, and intriguing mystery and a charming setting. Do not miss this book (and series).
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Kensington Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.
I was looking for a light hearted detective story and loved this book. It kept my interest so that I had to finish it in one sitting. Well written and encompassing
Wonderful characters….can’t wait for the next book ….great recipes too
Reminds me of my days at the Jersey shore. Also the foods and the family dynamic.
Trying to run the family restaurant, possibly having 2 boyfriends and solving a murder for the former lawyer gets to be very frustrating. She’s staying with her best friend whose husband is a cop. Catering a wedding where a dead body shows up in the families catering van and the blame is shifted to her main chef. She has to fight the cops and try to clear him of murder. But she does the job and clear his name.
*I received a free copy of this book which I voluntarily chose to write an honest review for.
Lucy does it again! She is starting to get more comfortable running the family restaurant when they are asked to cater a celebrity secret wedding. Just before celebrating their success a dead body in the catering van spoils the party mood. When Azid becomes the main suspect she finds herself.boxing around asking questions until she ultimately finds herself in trouble again. The culture in this book is fascinating as we keep up with the characters. The food sounds great providing the perfect compliment to the clues sprinkled throughout. If you like culinary cozy mysteries or just ones with characters outside the norm then you should really try this book/series. I really liked it so I give it 4/5 stars.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
We are back at the Jersey Shore where the staff of the Kebab Kitchen is catering a high-society wedding. The food seems to be a hit and that should be great for the business. Then when the crew is packing up to leave they find a grisly discovery in the catering van. The best man has been stabbed in the neck with a shish kebab skewer. Lucy’s parents are not going to be happy but they may become apoplectic when they find out their head chef is the prime suspect in the murder. Lucy knows it will be up to her to prove his innocence because there is no love lost between Lucy’s family and the investigating detective.
Ms. Kashian has written a very compelling mystery with plenty of suspects. The story moves right along with plenty of twists. The victim had his share of enemies and may have made more on the day he died. As in book one Lucy and her friend, Katie start sleuthing. Katie’s husband is a cop and he knows what the girls are up to even though he wishes they would stay our it., If Detective Clemmons finds out he wouldn’t think twice about arresting them for interfering in his investigation.
I was engaged by these characters in the first book and now know them even better. Their relationships are typical of those in a family run restaurant business. I grew up in one of those. Lucy and Katie’s friendship shines and while working with her ex is not easy, Lucy really champions Azad and does all she can to get him out of hot water. Although there is still Michael hanging around as the third limb to this romantic triangle. I know who I would choose but Lucy’s mother may have other ideas.
Then there is the food, the glorious food. I just like saying the word Baklava! Mine would have to be made without the walnuts (allergy), but I could almost taste that and the hummus and the shish kebabs and everything else they mentioned right through the pages. Yes, there are recipes in the back of the book.
Loved it! Appealing characters in an entertaining mystery set on the Jersey Shore. Who could ask for more? Me! I can’t wait for the next installment. One Feta in the Grave hits stores February 26, 2019!!
The Kebab Kitchen gets a great opportunity to cater a celebrity wedding in the second book in this series. Unfortunately, the night ends with the best man found murdered in their catering van. Lucy’s ex and Kebab Kitchen chef, Azad, is the prime suspect. Lucy and Katie set out to clear Azad in this fun mystery. I love the charming town of Ocean Crest and the characters. I look forward to seeing what will happen next for Lucy and if she’ll ever make a choice between Azad and Michael. I personally like Azad a little better than Michael right now, but that could change! Great recipes included in this delightful book!
STABBED IN THE BAKLAVA by Tina Kashian
The Second Kebab Kitchen Mystery
It’s a surprise when socialite Scarlet Westwood pays a visit to Kebab Kitchen, but even more so when she asks Lucy Berberian to cater her wedding. With less than two weeks notice for an event bigger than the kitchen has ever done, and no catering experience herself, Lucy agrees. This is her chance to prove herself and give the restaurant a big boost. With the help of her semi-retired parents, best friend, and Kebab Kitchen staff the event goes off with nary a hitch…until it’s time to leave and Lucy finds Azad by their catering van with the murdered body of the best man inside!
The salty scent of the ocean, the fragrant aromas of lemon and garlic, all perfume the Jersey Shore in this, the second Kebab Kitchen Mystery. Romance is in the air as well as Lucy feels her attraction to Azad grow, despite her trying to put a lid on it. Yet sparks also fly when Michael is near. Although uncertain about the men in her life, Lucy is coming into her own. She’s taking more responsibility for the restaurant and bringing her own ideas with her, in regards to Kebab Kitchen, her personal life, and her involvement in murder investigations.
This is a book of secrets, family, and loyalty. The mystery is compelling-a variety of suspects, a seemingly impossible puzzle, and an urgency to prove Azad innocent. I love the family dynamic, especially the realistic relationship between Lucy’s parents; their bickering, their seeming opposition, but ultimate love for each other, their family and friends. I continue to giggle at Angela’s crush on Cooking Kurt, the hot TV chef!
Humor, a smidge of romance, and an intriguing mystery flavor the second Kebab Kitchen Mystery making STABBED IN THE BAKLAVA a delectable mystery with heart.
FTC Disclosure – The publisher sent me a digital ARC provided through NetGalley, in the hopes I would review it.
I fully enjoyed the first book in the series and this one was just as enjoyable. I love the setting – a Mediterranean restaurant because the hummus and other dishes all leave my mouth watering. Thank goodness there are recipes at the end that I can try to satisfy my cravings.
The victim in this book is a despicable banker that has some issues. It isn’t too much of a surprise when he ends up dead, however, it takes a few tense scenes at a wedding reception to decipher who the victim might be in this book. The killer may, or may not, be obvious as you read the book. I suspected this character but didn’t know for sure until it was all revealed at the end. The author does a great job of throwing red herrings in your path to discovering the truth. And of course, Lucy and Katie are in the middle of things trying to clear Azad’s name. Lucy can’t lose her head chef after all!
I’m waiting for the book when Detective Clemmons drops his dislike for Lucy and her family. There is a peace offering at the end of this book that just might lead to less hostility on his part, but only time will tell.
I was surprised that Michael (Harley owner next door to the restaurant) didn’t make an appearance until halfway through the book and very little after that. I’m not sure if there is supposed to be a love triangle happening between Lucy, Azad, and Michael, but if there is this book didn’t bring much tension to the triangle. Perhaps he is just meant to be a friend?
Overall the book does what it should – keep you guessing from start to finish while uncovering clues and trying to keep Lucy out of too much trouble.
Stabbed in the Baklava by Tina Kashian is the second A Kebab Kitchen Mystery. Lucy Berberian is now the manager of her family’s restaurant, Kebab Kitchen in Ocean Crest, New Jersey. Lucy is surprised when Philadelphia socialite, Scarlet Westwood asks Kebab Kitchen to cater her wedding in two weeks. It is a tight timeline for the restaurant, but it would be excellent publicity. Two weeks later they arrive at Castle of the Sea prepared to wow the wedding guests with their cuisine. Preparations are going well until a drunken Henry Simms, local banker, stumbles into the kitchen and ends up in a verbal disagreement with Azad Zakarian, Kebab Kitchen’s head chef. After extricating Henry from the kitchen, the rest of the meal goes off without a hitch. Henry is later found in Kebab Kitchen’s van with a shish kebab skewer thrust through his neck. Detective Calvin Clemmons, unfortunately, is assigned the case and he has narrowed his sights on Azad. Lucy, at the urging of her parents, works to prove Azad’s innocence and unveil the killer. Accompany Lucy on her campaign to decipher the clues and spot the individual who skewered the banker like a shish kebab!
Stabbed in the Baklava contains good writing and a nice steady pace which makes for an easy to read cozy mystery. While Stabbed in the Baklava is the second book in series, it can be read alone. The author provides Lucy’s backstory and summarizes the mystery from Hummus and Homicide. Lucy has settled into managing the restaurant and is learning how to cook as well. There are some luscious food descriptions that will have readers craving Mediterranean food. Her attempts at making improvements at the restaurant have met with limited success. Lucy has two love interests which include her old boyfriend, Azad Kazarian who has her parent’s approval and the handsome motorcycle riding Michael Citteroni. While a cozy mystery needs to have some romance (it is expected), I prefer it to play out softly in the background and I am tired of love triangles. The murder mystery was ingenuous. I identified the victim and killer before the victim was skewered. Lucy needs to work on how she asks suspects questions. She lacks subtlety and her questions come across as accusatory (I am sure she will get better in time). I hope the author introduces a new detective in a future book. Detective Clemmons is the cliché nasty detective with a grudge because of an incident that occurred in high school. I appreciate Lucy’s best friend, Katie Watson. She is a lively character with an upbeat personality. Katie is always up for adventure and has inside intel thanks to her police officer hubby. I did feel that there was too much time devoted to Lucy speculating on the crime and I could have used less repetition of key details (like Lucy’s lack of cooking skills). Stabbed in the Baklava is an undemanding cozy mystery with a quaint small town, charming characters and food descriptions that will have you salivating.
Lucy has taken over managing her family’s Mediterranean restaurant in Ocean Crest, New Jersey, and she is thrilled when they are hired to cater the wedding of socialite Scarlet Westwood. However, in the middle of the reception, Lucy’s chef and ex-boyfriend, Azad, gets into a fight with the best man, Henry. As the night is winding down, Azad finds Henry’s body in the back of their locked catering van. Naturally, the police think he is a great suspect, but Lucy disagrees. Can she figure out what happened?
It was great to be back in Ocean Crest, and I felt like we got to see a bit more of this resort town. I loved it, and I’d love to be able to visit in real life, just maybe between the murders. The mystery here is very strong, with several viable and well-developed suspects. I followed along with Lucy’s thoughts as she investigated figuring that her current theory would turn out to be wrong, but when she finally figured out the truth, it made perfect sense. Most of the characters are strong, although a few of the supporting characters still seem to be a bit weak, and the way that Lucy’s mother focuses on her love life annoyed me. The love triangle is still going strong here, although I have a feeling I know where it will go. There are three delicious sounding recipes at the end of the book. Overall, this is a fun second in the series.
Tina Kashian’s Stabbed in the Baklava is the second in the Kebab Kitchen Mystery Series featuring Lucy Berberian, and I found it just as enjoyable as the first. The restaurant has been hired to provide the food for a very high profile wedding in Ocean Crest, and all is running smoothly until the best man is found skewered to death in the catering van, and the head chef is accused of his murder! A nice plot, likable characters and very strong family ties make this cozy mystery a winner in my book! A+
Cozy Mystery with Great Recipes
This cozy mystery takes place in an ethnic restaurant along the Jersey shore. This must be part of a series as there are many references to solving a prior murder. Beyond that, this book stands alone quite well. It is a fun cozy, but refers to the prior murder way too often for my taste. One of the best parts of the book are the recipes! These include baklava, kebabs and stuffed grape leave, Yum. I received this book for free and voluntarily chose to post my honest review
I loved continuing the story of Lucy as she settles in managing her family’s restaurant. A catering job ends up with a dead body and her head chef is accused of the crIme. Lucy and her friend Katie do a great job of uncovering information and, once again, solving the mystery and saving the day!
And before I forget—the amazing recipes at the end of the books are appreciated after being tantalized with them throughout the book. I don’t think I’ve ever been this hungry reading a series
Stabbed in the Baklava is the second book in the Kebab Kitchen Mystery series. Kebab Kitchen, a Mediterranean restaurant on the Jersey Shore, has been hired to cater a society wedding. Everything is going great until the best man is found murdered and the head chef at the restaurant winds up a prime suspect. Lucy Berberian, who runs the restaurant, doesn’t believe it and does her own investigating to clear the chef’s name. Love the characters and the mystery is well written. Plus there are delicious recipes included. Highly recommend this series and this book!
Looking forward to more books in this series
Any book That I can stick with to the end gets my recommendation. This one kept my interest to the end. I dislike the gutter language, this one had very few. Good story and I learned some new foods to try.
Will read more books in this series