Funeral Food (Tory Bauer Mystery) [Mass Market Paperback]

Kathleen Taylor (Author)

Book Description

Series: Tory Bauer Mystery | Publication Date: February 1, 1998

Murder Can Kill The Appetite

There aren't many amusements in little Delphi, South Dakota--and that suits Tory Bauer just fine. Widowed, over forty, and somewhat exceeding the surgeon general's weight guidelines, she's content to sling hash at the locals in the Delphi Cafe and craves no additional excitement. Her oversexed fellow waitress and trailer-mate Delphine, however, is always hungry for a new thrill. So when young, good-looking Mormon missionary Charles Winston brings his soul saving fervor to the Cafe's table, Del's all over him like ketchup on fries, totally unconcerned about how her boyfriend--the dangerously short-tempered county deputy, Big Dick Albrecht--will react.

And it's Tory who has to clean up the sloppy mess left behind--because it's she who discovers Winston's corpse stuffed in a mop closet several days later. Tory's large appetite for answers and natural talent for deduction are dumping her into a crockpot of lethal, long-simmering small town secrets. And if she's not careful, she'll wind up in the missionary's position: flat-out, stone-cold dead.

MURDER CAN KILL THE APPETITE

There aren't many amusements in little Delphi, South Dakota--and that suits Tory Bauer just fine. Widowed, over forty, and somewhat exceeding the surgeon general's weight guidelines, she's content to sling hash at the locals in the Delphi Cafe and craves no additional excitement. Her oversexed fellow waitress and trailer-mate Delphine, however, is always hungry for a new thrill. So when young, good-looking Mormon missionary Charles Winston brings his soul saving fervor to the Cafe's table, Del's all over him like ketchup on fries, totally unconcerned about how her boyfriend--the dangerously short-tempered county deputy, Big Dick Albrecht--will react.

And it's Tory who has to clean up the sloppy mess left behind--because it's she who discovers Winston's corpse stuffed in a mop closet several days later. Tory's large appetite for answers and natural talent for deduction are dumping her into a crockpot of lethal, long-simmering small town secrets. And if she's not careful, she'll wind up in the missionary's position: flat-out, stone-cold dead.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"For folks who like a kick and a bit of spice, this one's for you." -- --Mystery Lovers Bookshop

About the Author

Kathleen Taylor is the author of six mysteries featuring smalltown waitress Tory Bauer. Kathleen was a contributing editor for several crafts magazines and, when not writing, enjoys working on crafts. She has lived all her adult life in South Dakota, with her husband.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Avon (February 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0380793806
• ISBN-13: 978-0380793808
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,558,933 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Kathleen Taylor is a writer, spinner, knitter, wife, mother, and grandmother. She has written six Tory Bauer Mysteries, and five knitting books.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

66 of 68 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is Where You Start, January 26, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Funeral Food (Tory Bauer Mystery) (Mass Market Paperback)

If you have not already read Kathleen Taylor's Tory Bauer mysteries, you've missed some sprightly good times. Not to worry, though. As it turns out, FUNERAL FOOD, her latest book published by Avon is actually the *first* in the series. It was originally published in a very small edition as THE MISSIONARY POSITION and was tied up with legalities. Avon, knowing they had something good, went ahead and published two other books in the series, SEX AND SALMONELLA and HOTEL SOUTH DAKOTA. Now, the legal issues out of the way, Avon offers us the prequel. Tory Bauer is a widowed, mature, Rubenesque waitress in Delphi, South Dakota's only cafe. She lives in a trailer with her ex-husband's lusty cousin, Del, and Del's teen-age son, Presley. Delphi is filled with memorable characters we like because of or despite their respective eccentricities. Working as a waitress and living in Delphi are uneventful until Tory finds a young Mormon, new to the community, in.....you got it.....the missionary position.....that is, "flat-out, stone cold dead." In trying to understand why anyone would kill the young missionary, Tory discovers many things about herself, about those she loves, and her neighbors. The ending is, well, a Kathleen Taylor ending. You don't stop thinking about this book when it's finished. You want to read the other two.....again, if you've already read them. Kathleen Taylor's terrific good humor, careful characterizations, and interesting plots place her among the best of the new mystery writers. She leaves you with a charming turn-of-phrase here, a delightful metaphor there, and many, many laughs along the way. Harry Barnard

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Food, Fun and Mystery, July 31, 2000

By 

Roz Levine - See all my reviews

This review is from: Funeral Food (Tory Bauer Mystery) (Mass Market Paperback)

Delphi, South Dakota is a dusty, pin prick of a town where life revolves around the cafe and a beer with olives tossed in, is called a South Dakota Martini. That is, until Tory Bauer, a widowed, over forty waitress, who's hooked on mystery novels, finds Mormon missionary, Charles Winston bludgeoned to death in the Delphi Cafe mop closet. Now, the town is in chaos, Tory is looking for answers and some of the best kept secrets are coming out of their hiding places. Ms Taylor has put together a colorful cast of characters that come alive on the page. The writing and dialogue are terrific, with descriptions so vivid that you'll be laughing out loud and enough twists and turns to keep you turning pages. This is a story you won't want to put down and fortunately, it is easily read in one sitting. Funeral Food has it all...great characters, good plot and a mystery that keeps you guessing to the very end.

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A delightful cozy, July 19, 2000

By 

Mystery Maven (Tucson, AZ USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Funeral Food (Tory Bauer Mystery) (Mass Market Paperback)

I had read the first two Tory Bauer books by Kathleen Taylor when each was originally published, and for some reason I can't remember I decided not to read any more of her books. However, as it was highly recommended to me this week, I decided to give FUNERAL FOOD a try. I was pleasantly surprised, as I enjoyed the book tremendously. Over 40, overweight, widowed and terribly human, Tory is a heroine for the average American woman. I certainly can identify with her.

Tory discovers the dead body of a young Morman missionary in the closet of the cafe where she waitresses. Tory thinks he is the victim of a love triangle, as her roommate Del has had eye on the young man, rousing the ire of Del's current (and abusive) flame.

While the identify of the murderer was obvious to me mid-way through the book, I still enjoyed the book very much. The characters were fully developed, and I laughed all the way through. Cozy lovers should find FUNERAL FOOD a delight.