Customer Reviews

Death By Rhubarb (A Heaven Lee Culinary Mystery)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

DEATH BY RHUBARB, by Lou Jane Temple, is a good example of write what you know. Lou Jane is a red-headed chef from the midwest who writes about a red-headed restauranteur in Kansas City, Heaven Lee who has several ex-husbands, two of which meet in her restaurant the night the date of one of them dies of poison.

The characters and setting are authentic. Lou Jane was a caterer to Rock groups and fashion shoots in her other life, so she certainly knows food and eccentric people. The open-mike night at Cafe Heaven is a hoot, as are the members of the local anti-everything group. Lou Jane has a keen eye and a sassy tongue, but I think the inclusion of recipes in the body of the story slows things down a bit too much

I received this entire series as a gift and will be reviewing each one as I read them. Although it looks like a cozy mystery, I don't consider it to be one for several reasons, the top three are:

1. The liberal use of the F* word by both the main character and other's in the story.

2. The main character - 4 time divorced - 1 widowed - Heaven Lee, who is about 45 - sleeping with a 25 year old.

3. Heaven Lee - A former stripper and disbarred lawyer who says she was disbarred for "doing what all lawyers do, putting together a drug deal for their clients." I'm sure there is a story behind that but it's not told in this book and I think I think it should have been, because I don't think it casts Heaven in a good light.

It's Open-mike night at Cafe Heaven. Unfortunately, the evening ends early when lawyer, Tasha Arnold drops dead. Since Tasha is dating and sleeping with two of Heaven's ex-husbands and dies of poisoning after eating dinner at the Cafe, Heaven becomes the top suspect.

The problems with this book starts with the fact that I don't like Heaven Lee. There are so many characters in the book, but they are so undefined that I had a hard time following who they were, and what they were doing.

I think the only people that I got to know were Chris, who works at the restaurant and was the victim of gay-bashing hate crime in the past. Murray - a former New York City Crime reporter and Sandy - a lawyer who is one of Heaven's ex-husbands.

All of the other characters, I thought were so lacking in personality that they don't really stick out.

Then there's the recipes. They are flopped right in the middle of the pages. The story just stops for a recipe and then continues after the recipe. Usually on the same page as the recipe. (I'm sure this is an editing problem and not the author's, but it is irritating.) And I can honestly say I would never try any of these. For one thing, I don't even know what a Jicama is or what wheatberries are or where to find them.

However, the mystery was and characters were just interesting enough that I will read the second book. I know a lot of mystery series I read seem to have problems with their first book and don't really hit their rhythm until the 3rd or 4th book.

With the character's I enjoyed and the mystery which was ok, and a nice surprise killer are enough that I want to go onto the next book and hope for improvements in the future.

I only got through the first two chapters of this book, and I couldn't finish it. I'm an avid mystery reader, so I know what it takes to "hook" a reader. This book didn't have it. The setting was depressing, the characters uninteresting and unlikable, and I honestly didn't care about the storyline. If the main heroine turns you off, there's not much incentive to keep reading. Heaven Lee, a many-times-married former stripper, has no positive personality traits that make the reader care about her. I regret buying all the books in the series before reading the first. I will not read the others.

After reading Tamar Myers, Phyllis Richman, and Diane Mott Davidson, I was really looking forward to another clever culinary mystery series. WOW, this one really misses the mark! The writing was clumsy and amateurish, with an abject lack of character development and not a shred of wit. I kept thinking, surely it will get better. It didn't. This is bland, poorly written prose wrapped around a thin plot. Pass this one by....

The initial entry in Lou Jane Temple's Heaven Lee culinary mysteries is what many readers relish: a cleverly constructed mystery, larger than life characters and off the wall recipes. I wonder if many readers every try them??
Anyway, Heaven is a delightful heroine, down to earth, married six times, and in danger of losing her cafe. Seems like her ex's new girl friend drops dead after eating something in the cafe. Things don't look good for Heaven, as she's the prime suspect. Aided by a motley crew of friends and coworkers, Heaven sets out to unmask the culprit.
While not as well honed as Diane Mott Davidson's culinary heroine Goldie, Heaven Lee is a fun read and I look forward to more of her food mysteries!

I can't say I was overly impressed with the first installment of this series.

I found nothing at all to like about Heaven...she just seemed to come through as some kind of low-life without any redeeming qualities. The supporting cast is just that...you don't get to know a thing about them. Plus, there were so many supporting characters with common/similar names (Chris, Joe, Hank, Sam, Sal, Sol) that I had trouble keeping them all straight. I also found the recipes right in the middle of the text to be annoying.

I've already bought the next two books in the series, so I'll read them...whether I continue or not after that is still up in the air.

There was a bit of conversation about food related mystery books of late which got me sitting up straight. A mystery AND food - all in one place?
Investigating offerings of the mystery books about food, I discovered this little book by a Kansas City caterer, Lou Jane Temple, with recipes included. I recognized the name immediately as I have actually had the delightful experience of eating her wonderful food on occasion. Ah, I remember one such appetizer she served that included a fantastic peanut dipping sauce. Oh! Maybe the book would include the recipe!
Premier Kansas City caterer, Heaven Lee, turned owner/chef of a trendy restaurant finds herself in the middle of a mess when the girlfriend of one of her ex-husbands drops dead from poisoning mid-dinner at Cafe Heaven. A cast of quirky but delightful characters set about to find out who is responsible before Heaven is ruined and she loses the restaurant, or worse, goes to prison for murder.
Indeed, recipes are included - sadly, while she mentions the peanut dipping sauce at least twice, Lou Jane does not include the recipe. But for a quick and cozy little read, I can recommend a delightful bit of time spent with DEATH BY RHUBARB. And I bet the recipes will be good, too!

What a fine little read and an excellent first book. Kansas Citians,especially us expats, will be delighted with the venue and the well crafted characters, many of whom seem so familiar. Lou Jane is really a woman for all seasons and her writing certainly reflects it. It is rather unique the number of well defined characters she manages to insert into her "stew". The plot line works well; she fooled me right up to the end. I bought all the copies they had at Borders yesterday (sorry amazon) to send to friends as far away as Cairo, Bali, NY and LA. Did I mention that I know this fine lady from many years back? That's why I couldn't give her a 10 which she rightly deserves for a very tasty and well written piece of fiction. Lou Jane has a three book deal with St. Martins which means at least one more after "Revenge of the Barbeque Queens" then, what next Lou Jane

I'm an avid mystery reader and I really enjoyed this book. Heaven Lee, the heroine, is not quite as lovable as Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum or Diane Mott Davidson's Goldy. But she definitely has potential and the storyline makes for a cozy read on a rainy day.
To all those of you who found the book "depressing", let me say this: you have to have been to Kansas City to understand. I've been living in the KC area for 10 months now (on the Kansas side, mind you...haha) and it REALLY is THAT sad. You don't even have to get out of the car to get the picture.
Lou Jane Temple is not making this up....she describes what she knows. Kansas City at its best - or worst.
With this in mind, I just know that you'll find her other books more enjoyable.

My experience with Amazon has been excellent. Items purchased have arrived in a timely manner and have been in very good condition. I'm a satisfied customer!