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.
Hot Wings and Homicide
Food Truck Mystery #2
Carmela Dutra
I thought the series starter was good, well this second book is even better and does a great job as a stand-alone plus it doesn’t give any spoilers if you want to go back and read the series starter. This clever cozy mystery is based on an inherited family food truck business. Twins, Bethany (Beth) and Seth Lloyd are the owners of the Kluckin Good food truck left to them by their Aunt Dolly. This truck comes with a mascot suit that is proudly worn by Beth’s bff Rylie, who as of recently is also Seth’s girlfriend. After the fatal fiasco that was the reality food show/contest The Food Truck Showdown, Kluckin Good has never been busier, what with Beth helping to solve a murder and all while providing great food. So here we are, at the annual Flavors of the Bay Food Festival and Beth finds herself stumbling upon another body. Oh, but not just any body, the body of the weasel who broke her heart while professing his love karaoke style to another woman. Of all the food events in California, why did Brad Dawson, new food critic for The City and Beyond magazine, have to show up strutting like he was all that and a chicken leg too?
Of course, there was a very public confrontation and some shouting, plus maybe a punch was thrown as well as a napkin, so both Beth and Seth are at the top of the detective sheriff’s suspect list. Since this is not the city jurisdiction, Detective “Pretty Boy” Kane is not in charge of the investigation. Grover County Detective Pamela Wilcox is asking the questions and when it comes to being questioned, Beth, with her little bit of sassiness, has an inability to keep completely quiet. Seth, who is a lawyer when he isn’t helping with the food truck, is constantly telling her to invoke her 5th amendment right.
Great aspects of this book include the back and forth of the siblings, the “might be flirting” with Kane, the Kluckin’ Clues list, plus a magically small, confined space. Don’t let all the funny bits fool you, Beth’s sleuthing skills are quite good and ruffle more than one feather as she manages to add more than one suspect to her list. It turns out that Brad was not well liked by anyone from restaurant owners to former best friends. Plenty of suspects means that there are plenty of opportunities for red herrings and I was led astray a few times.
Needless to say, this cozy is going to keep you clucking, I mean chuckling. The emotional support chicken is one spoiler that I just have to share because it is BRILLIANT. Not every cozy mystery pet has to be furry, and Teriyaki adds that little extra flavor to another great plot. Speaking of extra flavor, this book comes with two amazing recipes, Golden Gate Heat Wings and Plucked and Truffles Fries.
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