Customer Reviews

An Appetite For Murder: A Key West Food Critic Mystery

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Okay, I admit, I'm not much for cozies. But Lucy Burdette's plucky heroine drew me in: this book is a big happy plate of conch fritters on a perfect evening in the Keys, watching the sun set red and pink and purple over the soft ocean. Local flavor abounds, and not just the setting and characters. Hayley is a food critic, but not the snooty sort, which means she gets to eat all sorts of great meals in all sorts of local restaurants. Oh, there's a murder mystery, too, and when the police not only fail to make progress, but seem to turn their suspicions on Hayley herself -- well, she has to buckle down and start investigating. The plot speeds along, the company is great, the setting exactly where any reader would want to be this time of year.

I read and LOVED this book! It so captures the nutty sweetness (food metaphor, of course) of Key West where a street performer actually herds cats, has a great comic voice, and tells a compelling mystery. I am so rooting for Hayley -- can't wait for book 2 in the series.

Despite the proliference of cooking shows on television and in books, the process of food journalism and criticism is an area just crying out to be explored. Happily, this vacuum is filled by this new mystery that features Hayley Snow, a twenty-something foodie desperate to attain her dream job as a food critic for a new Florida magazine, Key Zest.

Standing in Hayley's path is Kristin Faulkner, the co-owner of the magazine and who also just happens to be the woman caught en flagrante with Hayley's boyfriend. Moving to Florida to move in with Chad was the one spontaneous decision Hayley made in her life, and that choice has her now bunking with her college roommate on a houseboat and taking small jobs as a professional cleaner. That Kristin could also block Hayley's dream job is just one more twist of a knife.

So when Kristin is poisoned to death by key lime pie just before Hayley gets her first article published examining the dessert, it's not a shock that she is immediately hauled in by the police. As their number one suspect it's up to Hayley to prove her innocence, which happily has her investigating in the very food stands and restaurants she is critiquing. This leads to the intricate examination of characters with motives to hate Kristin along with absolutely mouth-watering descriptions of Key West's most delicious specialties.

This new series is written by Lucy Burdette, pseudonym for psychologist Roberta Isleib and the author of two other series that both incorporate characters who are therapists. In this series the therapist is Hayley's best friend Eric, who aids her in both tastings & detecting, all the while facing professional ethics that prevent him from disclosing more than Hayley might wish. All these three series share a protagonist who is smart, witty, and entirely unique. This particular novel features the conflicts a food critic must face, such as whether to alienate a chef who is a friend, if publicizing a neighborhood dive could ruin its appeal, and how a negative review can ruin a business. The solution to the mystery is surprising, the characters are left with promising futures, and a preview of the next in this series seems to feature cameos by food critics & writers Ruth Riechl and Frank Bruni. I can hardly wait!

In this first book in a new series, Hayley Snow - recently transplanted from New Jersey to Key West - attempts to dine and write her way into a food critic position for a newly formed magazine. Hayley loves quaint, beautiful Key West too much to regret her impulsive decision to move there to live with her cheating boyfriend. Unfortunately, the magazine owner that she needs to impress is also her ex's new girlfriend. To top off all her "good luck", she becomes the main suspect in the murder of that same woman. Hayley decides to investigate the murder in order to clear her name despite the fact that she is now being stalked by the killer.

Hayley's character is certainly likable, the reader will connect with her easily and maintain that relationship throughout the novel. Her quick thinking and wits keep her and the reader one step ahead of the antagonist. The secondary characters were interesting to get to know, the reader will appreciate the details added to their characters. The events were fast-paced and easy to follow. The ending will be both surprising and satisfying.

The author's descriptions of life on a houseboat, friendly homeless drifters, beautiful flowers, and food that will have you snacking as you read add to the suspense. Adults will enjoy this mystery; they may be tempted to try the recipes too.

Four stars

I have to admit that mysteries are not always my first choice of reading, but I couldn't resist picking this book up when I saw that the story takes place in Key West -- a favorite location for me -- and serves up all the great mix of foods and restaurants that would take anyone many meals to experience. But it was Hayley Snow's voice that kept me reading. And her plight. Poor kid, she's kind of ditzy and certainly follows her all-too-vulnerable heart (instead of her stomach which is what her mother would have advised her to do) when making life choices -- such as following Chad Lutz, a guy she barely knew, to the island paradise known as Key West. Thank goodness her best friend Eric was already there to pick up the pieces when things went awry. And, oh boy, did they! Quickly, Hayley is the police's POI for the murder of Kristen Faulkner -- the floozy who was in bed with Chad when Kristen came home unexpectedly. Of course, it had to be the Key Lime Pie as a murder weapon. It is Key West.

You'll know all along that it couldn't be Hayley. She's too sweet and naive to plot such a murder. But who? And how many restaurants do we get to visit before finding out?

This is a terrific read, so entertaining and delicious. You'll want to visit Key West soon and hope to meet Hayley as she scoots around town reviewing restaurants for Key Zest, the local newspaper.

Loved all the chapter intros about food. My favorites: " A hot dog or a truffle. God is good." James Beard "I suppose there are people who can pass up free guacamole, but they are either allergic to avocado or too joyless to live." Frank Bruni

Lucy Burdette has dished out a hot dog/truffle/guacamole delight.

I enjoyed this debut novel set in Key West, Florida. The story centers around a food critic to be, Hayley Snow. Hayley moved impulsively down to Florida from New Jersey to follow her lover. The romance failed but a new one was struck up with Key West. Hayley loves her new home town and loves food with equal passion.

The problem comes when her ex-lover's girlfriend is murdered and Hayley is the number one prospect in the eyes of the KWPD.

The descriptions of foods, life, colors (such as Lorenzo, the Tarot Card reader,) make you feel you are in Hayley's shadow experiencing the same tastes, smells, breezes and even rain squalls.

I laughed, cried a bit (Evinrude, well you will see,) and even felt the anger and frustration our Hayley felt. The sense of not being believed is something we have all felt in our lifetimes.

I truly liked the recipes and look forward to the next book which was tantalizingly excerpted for us. I think we have a new Author to follow.

I just finished "An Appetite for Murder" and loved it. Hayley Snow is just the right mixture of smart and ditsy. Her nervous rambling on off-point subjects when she's in a pickle is hilarious but not over-the-top and it's recognizable (been there, done that). The plot was sufficiently complex (I didn't see the ending coming), and although I'm hoping the author will bring Hayley to Connecticut, my state, for a future adventure, I think the colorful cast of characters in "An Appetite" will be a more buttoned-down group up East (but not too proper for murder).

The amazing thing was the food! The author's descriptions were succulent. I never thought I'd ever think fish tacos were anything but disgusting, but she made me come around. The recipes at the end were a nice touch. I marvel at the research and work she must have put into this book.

At the end, I read the beginning of the next Hayley adventure and am looking forward to learning who the sodden mass in the pool is. Not Jonah! I had already pegged him as Hayley's love interest. (I'm sure the Duval Street webcam will furnish clues.)

The author succeeded ... "An Appetite for Murder" made me feel like I was in Key West, and I didn't want to leave.

AN APPETITE FOR MURDER is the perfect antidote for the winter doldrums! Author Burdette takes readers into the elegant, decadent, zany locale of Key West, where aspiring resturant critic Hayley Snow has resettled. Eager to launch a new career and put a failed romance behind her, Hayley sets out to eat and write her way to the top of the Key West culinary scene. But when her ex boyfriend's new girlfriend ingests a murderous serving of key lime pie, Hayley must use her understanding of food and human nature to track the killer. Burdette celebrates the delectable food and quirky charm of Key West while introducing a witty, angsty heroine everyone can cheer for. If you're stuck at home making meatloaf for the kids, AN APPETITE FOR MURDER will transport you to a place where the sun's always shining, the mysteries are always unfolding, and the conch fritters are always sizzling!

This Midwestern girl loved taking a trip to Key West again via An Appetite for Murder. Key West is such a fun and quirky place to go visit with so many restaurants to explore, and oddities to experience. An Appetite for Murder took me to many of my favorite places such as BO's Fish Wagon, along with the twists and turns in the life of the main character Haley Snow. I was captivated right away with the story and the character development. I am looking forward to the next book about Haley's adventures in Key West.

Another treat in reading this book was the food reference quotes at the beginning of each chapter. I loved them.

Sue Speed

I have not been back to Key West in a decade. Hayley Snow was a wonderful companion when I returned. From Mallory Square to B O's I became a conch for a few days. This new series has it all. the charm and intrigue of Key West, the taste and aroma of good food, a well plotted mystery and a protagonist whose naivete is endearing.