Thank you to the authors, publishers, and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review. The recipe review and food pairing found on my Instagram feed are of my own doing.
Confessions of an Amateur Sleuth
A Bainbridge Island Mystery
Lynn Cahoon
Kensington
This is the second book in the Bainbridge Island Mystery series, and it has a very good plot, engaging characters, and words of wisdom. Megan Gates, an islander who has boomeranged following a very, very, very bad, engagement break up. While she is learning to be happy at home she is also learning to be happy with family. She is also learning to try new things, like pickleball. Did you know that pickleball was started on Bainbridge Island in the late 1960s. The things you learn from cozy mysteries are the best, from history, to sleuthing tips, and even recipes are found in the pages of this one.
Most of us both adore and sometimes abhor family, which includes our sleuth, Megan. I think that Meg's boyfriend was quite insightful when he said, "Family is hard, but I believe each and every member of yours loves you the best way they can. And as adults, it's up to us to acknowledge it and find friends that fill in the gaps." What an absolutely brilliant observation. Dalton is my favorite sort of love interest character, one who will be super supportive and bring out the best in our sleuth. This is definitely a time when Megan is going to need to try her best to be the better person. First, she finds herself having dinner with an overly critical food critic who meets an unfortunate end. The event leaves a bad taste in Meg's mouth, a mysterious note, and a fabulous diamond tennis bracelet. This mystery propels her into sleuth mode with a good dose of research and a commitment to getting down words for her amateur sleuth "how to book" for at least 30 minutes every day. The 30 minutes a day with fingers on the keyboard has reminded me that I need to do the same thing, so thank you Meg!
The quest to figure out why victim, Lee Anderson, left his gratitude and a pricey bracelet keeps Meg busy and a little distracted. Nonetheless, she is still able to complete the work tasks for her second job, (my dream job), as well as taking up pickleball, and show grace under pressure as a result of family dynamics and her mom's new relationship. Meg has certainly had some personal development and made significant progress on her book. Between the personal interactions and the plot twists it is very easy to become engrossed in the story. Who killed the critic? Was it a chef? Was it a past girlfriend? Maybe someone from his days at the
As with the series starter, I was entertained and educated, plus there was an opportunity to eat something tasty. The Crime Scene Chicken sandwich recipe found at the conclusion of the story is the perfect way to finish this book. The story and the recipes were both easy to follow, and both brought a smile to my face. For "dessert", there is the tantalizing first chapter of book three, so we forewarned that if you read it you are going to be wanting and waiting.
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