The Battered Body (The Supper Club Mysteries) [Paperback]

J.B. Stanley (Author)

Book Description

Series: The Supper Club Mysteries | Publication Date: March 8, 2009

There's trouble on the rise when the "Diva of Dough" arrives in Quincy's Gap to make the wedding cake for Milla and Jackson's Christmas Eve nuptials. The famous chef and television personality is Milla's sister, but while her confections are sweet and beautiful, the Diva herself makes enemies faster than you can say "praline pecan bundt cake." When the Diva is done in, her body found covered in cake batter, James and the other supper club members find themselves up to their elbows in suspects.

A cozy "village" mystery, The Battered Body is the fifth book in the warm and wonderful Supper Club Mystery series.

This high-calorie caper includes delicious recipes!

Praise for the Supper Club Mystery series

"Heavy on fun, light on gore, this savory mystery comes
complete with yummy recipes."—Publishers Weekly

"Foodies will love the recipes and fans the new adventures of
the five friends."—Kirkus Reviews

"Sprinkled with delightful characters and topped off
with a dash of suspense."—Romantic Times Book Reviews

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

The flab five are back in what is one of the most satisfying books in the series. The dieters include librarian James, policewoman Lucy, mailman Bennett, artist and schoolteacher Lindy, and vegetarian and pet activist Gillian. James’ widowed father, Jackson, is planning to marry on Christmas Eve. The trouble starts with the arrival of the bride’s family, including her sister, Paulette, a celebrity chef and television personality. The Diva of Dough plans to make a wedding cake to die for. But the woman seems to make more enemies than cakes. While no one is truly unhappy at her demise (her body covered in cake batter), the flab five feel they must discover who did it. As always, the story offers a delightful depiction of the village of Quincy’s Gap, Virginia. Stanley excels at gradually revealing more and more details about her appealing cast of characters, which, in turn, paves the way for plenty of engaging story lines to pursue in future volumes. The recipes included won’t do much for your diet, but maybe the introduction of a new character, dietician Dr. Ruth Wilkins, will help. --Judy Coon

Review

"Heavy on fun, light on gore, this savory mystery comes complete with yummy recipes." -- PW "Publishers Weekly"

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 301 pages
• Publisher: MIDNIGHT INK; 1 edition (March 8, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0738714720
• ISBN-13: 978-0738714721
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #293,915 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

A former Middle School English teacher, I've had a wide range of jobs ranging from catering to working the shirt press at a dry cleaner to being a part-time folk and outsider art dealer. I am most happy around books, food, animals, and antiques, so I combined all three of these things and became a writer of mysteries. My first series revolves around the world of antiques and collectibles and several of my characters love cats. My second series, The Supper Club mysteries, revolves around folks who are junk food addicts. Please visit my website at www.jbstanley.com for book club discussion questions and my contact information.

Thanks for supporting traditional mysteries!

Cheers, J.B.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Delicious Meal, March 6, 2009

By 

JoFaye Walker "the book pusher" (Union City, TN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Battered Body (The Supper Club Mysteries) (Paperback)

If you like good food and good friends with a murder on the side you're in for a treat. This series has all the componants that make us "cozy" readers love them. The people are well developed and easy to identify with. The scenes behind the desk at the library are well written and appropriate, and the murder is well plotted and beautifully presented. Everyone should indulge themselves once-in-a-while. Start with the first one and read them through. You deserve it!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Charming and surprising, February 28, 2009

By 

Trixie Belle (California) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Battered Body (The Supper Club Mysteries) (Paperback)

All of Quincy's Gap is looking forward to the New Year's wedding of Jackson Henry to his girlfriend, Milla. Milla's famous sister, television chef, Paulette Martine, is even coming from New York City to bake the wedding cake.

Murphy Alistair's book, "The Body in the Bakery," featuring the adventures of the Flab Five is due to be published any day. James Henry is hopping mad that he and his friends will be exposed to the world for ridicule. He decides to focus on his father's upcoming nuptials, being nice to his step-mothers visiting family members, and rekindling his romance with Lucy Hanover. His friend Bennett is practicing for his appearance on Jeopardy, and Gillian is making strange teas and hosting Christmas parties. Lindy is waiting for Luis to take their relationship to the next level in public. The Fitzgerald twins are looking for love-- in all the wrong places!

The murderer in this book was not surprising, but the human interest stories pack a wallop. The book really wraps up a lot of relationships between the characters, and adds a few new and welcome family members to Quincy's Gap. This was a cheerful, life affirming and heartwarming cozy mystery. I just hope that this wasn't the last book in the series... but if it was, bravo, it was a beautiful end.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wedding and Murder, May 14, 2009

By 

Dawn Dowdle "Mystery Lovers Corner reviewer" (Lynchburg, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Battered Body (The Supper Club Mysteries) (Paperback)

In preparation of Jackson Henry and Milla's New Year's wedding, her sister, Paulette Martine who is a television chef, comes to town to bake the wedding cake. James Henry, of the Flab Five, tries to be nice to Milla's relatives to keep his mind off of Murphy Alistair's upcoming book which will feature the adventures of the Flab Five, and probably not in a flattering manner. He's also hoping to rekindle his romance with Lucy, another member of the Flab Five and a sheriff's deputy. Bennett, another Flab Five member, is studying for his upcoming Jeopardy appearance.

The Fitzgerald twins, from the library James Henry manages, are looking for love but not always in the right places.

When Paulette is found murdered, James Henry investigates to try to speed things along. Jackson and Milla have postponed their wedding until it is resolved. As Milla's family prepares for the funeral, they show their true colors. Plus James is trying to buy his first house. There is so much involved and in the midst of all this, he gets a big surprise. Can he find the killer and help his dad and Milla to go on with their wedding and their lives?

I love this series. Each of the Flab Five characters brings something unique to the mixture. I also really enjoy the Fitzgerald twins. I wonder if when the author began this series she expected them to play such a large role. James' dad has really grown on me, especially since he met Milla.

I hope there will be many more books in this fabulous series. I highly recommend this book and the series.