Hey, mystery fans! Looking for something good to read?
At the August 2020 Just Desserts meeting that took place online using Zoom meeting software, 14 members participated in a discussion of “Culinary Crime” mysteries, in which attendees were encouraged to read ANY entry in a food/drink-themed mystery novel, and share their thoughts in a “round-robin” format. Here’s a list of the novels/series that were mentioned by group members. We asked all attendees to also give a “Thumbs Up” or “Thumbs Down” for whatever series they sampled – the majority of participants had a lukewarm attitude towards Culinary Crime mysteries, ranging from not enjoying them, to finding them a fun escape between more serious novels.
Culinary Crime Novels/Series:
The Hannah Swensen series by Joanne Fluke, starting with The Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder (two members read volumes in this series, including volume 10, The Carrot Cake Murder)
The Goldy Schulz series by Diane Mott Davidson (three group members reading in this series, all selecting either the first volume Catering to Nobody, or the second, Dying for Chocolate)
The Lucy Stone mystery series by Leslie Meier, starting with Mail Order Murder
The Country Store Mystery series by Maddie Day; she read volume 5, Death Over Easy
The Country Cooking School Mystery series by Paige Shelton; she read volume 3, If Bread Could Rise to the Occasion
The Nero Wolfe mystery series by Rex Stout, specifically volume 5, Too Many Cooks
The Henny Penny Farmette series by Meera Lester, specifically volume 3, A Hive of Homicides
The Biscuit Bowl Food Truck mystery series by J.J. Cook, specifically volume 3, Fat Tuesday Fricassee
The Sloan Krause brewery series by Ellie Alexander, starting with Death on Tap
The Alaskan Diner Mystery series by Elizabeth Logan, starting with Mousse and Murder
The Noodle Shop Mystery series by Vivien Chien, starting with Death by Dumpling
Following the “Series Share” portion of the meeting, we held our monthly round robin in which all 14 attendees were able to share recommendations of what other books they’ve been reading recently.
Here’s the list of mystery, thriller and suspense books recommended by Just Desserts members in August 2020:
What mysteries have you been reading lately that you’d recommend?