Customer Reviews

Devil's Food Cake

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is the third installment in the Sadie Hoffmiller Culinary Mystery Series and the most delectable so far. Devil's Food Cake is a culinary mystery on another level. Josi S. Kilpack has taken the 'cozy' out of culinary cozy.

Sadie started off as a bit of a caricature back in Lemon Tart, but she has developed into a character with depth. I'm not sure she's someone I want to know, but only because people she knows have a nasty habit of being murdered. Is she a bit of a busy body? Perhaps, but she certainly is useful one. An active member of her community, Sadie has personal inside knowledge of relationships and people that perhaps are not so obvious to the police force. She's also very gutsy. (Sadie makes a murder suspect a snack in the home of a woman who just attacked her... could I? Maybe, but would I? No way!) Unfortunately, because she's dating a detective on the force and she has a reputation for interfering in investigations, Sadie is ignored by the police. But she does find a stranger to aid her investigation, one who just may crumble her relationship that is already on the rocks.

The plot is intricate and compactly woven. The story moves without lulls and while the reader may question the validity actions of the characters, they are sure of their motivations. As crazy as the cast is, they all mean well. As a reader, I never found myself ahead or behind the investigation. I was right with Sadie every step of the way, and just as shocked as she was by every turn of events.

Kilpack's writing style can go from witty to serious in an instant, and lets not forget about the delicious recipes included! The food is pulled into the story, and the recipes follow the chapter, but they are never forced.

It is the most complete in character and plot of the three books in the Sadie Hoffmiller Culinary Mystery Series and I couldn't put it down.

[...].

Devil's Food Cake is the best book in the Sadie series yet. This new book takes place back in Colorado and introduces the reader to some new characters. The twists were particularly well done and the romantic triangle will be fun to watch evolve in the next book. I am not sure which way I want it to play out but will be interested in seeing where Josi takes the romantic angle. A delightful clean read.

What a fantastic, edge-of-your-seat thrill ride! Sadie's adventures just keep getting better and better. In Devil's Food Cake, we meet a few new characters--and it's a trick to discover who the villain really is until the very end.

At the end of the story, just when you catch your breath, you're given a delightful sneak peek at Key Lime Pie--Sadie's next adventure. I have no idea what I'll do before I get to read it!

This is the third book that I have read by this author, and it is soooo boring that I'm not going to read it.

Devil's Food Cake by Josi S. Kilpack

Considering my love of both food and reading, this book seemed like a natural. The protagonist appears to be fixated on food while solving mysteries. The book included the recipes of the dishes she describes while sleuthing. The mystery is to discover who set up the shotgun trap to kill Mark.

Sadie Hoffmiller is not a highly likeable character. She recognizes that many people in her community consider her a busy body, most likely because she appears to be a busy body. She does have a good heart and believes most problems can be solved with the suitable application of culinary delights. I don't know that I have ever read a book with a less likely heroine. It was a good mystery combining a love of food with an equal desire to solve mysteries.

I recommend the book.

I am writing this review as I hear my stomach screaming for Evil Chicken and Devil's Food Cake. Both recipes will be tried out soon.

Oh my does our Sadie and son, Shawn Hoffmiller get into unbelievable danger, confusion, and murder just by Sadie attending a fund raiser for the Library. Garrison, Colorado is a quiet town with not much going on except around our Sadie. This time she was sitting next to her 'sometime, maybe, hopefully, boyfriend, Detective Pete Peterson. A Murder occurs on stage by the agent for the hometown author.

Sadie can't even get out of the ballroom of the hotel, with her best friend and eyewitness, Gayle before being involved with a fake crime photographer, a cunning and self-serving news reporter from Denver, and angry policemen.

I laughed, I sat in suspense and I heartily endorse this excellent book. Treat yourselves.

This book is not written by Betsy Strain as indicated here. This book was a lot of fun to read. I love the recipes! Josi S. Kilpack's books put me in mind of Jan Karon's Mitford Series books which are also culinary mysteries, but Josi has chosen a more contemporary and LDS setting for her sleuth. Very entertaining!

This is the third of the Sadie Hoffmiller series and they just keep getting better.
I like a good murder mystery and Josie Kilpack writes good ones.
Sadie Hoffmiller,of course, manages to be right in the middle of this newest mystery. Even though the police don't want her help, she manages to uncover evidence they might not ever think to look for, and to solve another mystery.
A bonus of these books are the recipes included for the goodies Sadie manages to find time to cook, while solving the mystery.

Sadie gets down and dirty in this Devilish delicious culinary mystery. With two romantic interests Josi Kilpack spins poor Sadie deep into plenty of hot water with hot cocoa mixed in on the side. There's definitely some despicable dealings going on in good old Garrison, Colorado that involve bestselling author Thom Mortenson and a ghost from the past.

Recipes include Killer Nachoes, French Chocolate, Heavenly Hot Wings, and three ultimate yummy cakes; Devils's food, Died and Gone to Heaven and Angel Snowball.

I love the way that the author related food to everything. When stessed out you think of food. It made the charactors more real. Loved It!