Thank you to the authors, publishers, and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. The recipe review and food pairing found on my Instagram feed are of my own doing.
Mango Murders
A Key West Food Critic Mystery #15
Lucy Burdette
Crooked Lane Books
This entertaining and tasty series is set in Key West, where tourists and locals alike go to watch the sunset at Mallory Square as a daily ritual. This time they get more of a show than expected. Book 16 of the Key West Food Critic Mystery series starts out with a BIG bang. While on a sunset cruise for the Key Zine magazine, food critic Hayley Snow gets more than excellent appetizers and mango cocktails. There is an explosion followed by a fire, followed by chaos and the discovery of a dead body. Which puts Hailey’s mom in a bad light because the explosion was caused by a propane tank that was found with her catering supplies.
Hayley has a history of getting involved in police investigations. She doesn’t mean to aggravate the detective who is her husband, but she is able to get answers when he hits snags and unhelpful leads. While his heart is consumed with love and care for her safety, he really should be used to it by now. He needs to admit that Hayley gets results and answers that are most helpful. It might have something to do with her approachable and easy-going manner while Nathan is all business, police business.
While the coconut telegraph aka local gossip, is busy transmitting the latest details, no one is sure what the motive is for the murder. It could be one of four things, love, loss, loathing, or loot. This time around, Hayley has back-up in the form of her MILs (mothers-in-law), Helen, Nathan’s mom and Allison, her stepmom. These ladies are like yin and yang, and together with Hauley, they are formidable. Hayley doesn’t seem to be on her “A” game this time around. She and Nathan have more friction than usual which gives this book a dash of reality. Another nod to the nonfiction world is the multi-day birthday extravaganza for Miss Gloria, Hayley’s houseboat neighbor and octogenarian friend who is turning 85. Just imagine the fun and possible stress of planning such an event and then top it off with overprotective offspring who think that it is time for Miss Gloria to leave Florida and get away from the madness of murder investigations that seems to follow Hayley.
With more than a heck of a plot twist and an amazing set of recipes at the back of the book, this cozy mystery delivers all the way around. I cannot wait to see what happens next! I guess I will have to bide my time enjoying Mango Scones for breakfast, Mango Daiquiri for afternoon cocktails, Tuna Noodle Casserole for dinner, and Upside Down Mango Cake for dessert.
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