Customer Reviews

Funeral Food (Tory Bauer Mystery)

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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

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.

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.

This is not one of those hard-boiled, serious mysteries. Instead, it's one of those lighter, fun mysteries, with extremely engaging and likable characters. It seems to be more about the characters than the crime, which is how I like my mysteries - and perhaps how you like yours. I recommend Ms. Taylor's other books highly, as well. Time spent in her corner of South Dakota is time well spent.

I read all these reviews that said this book is wonderful. This sounds to be such an interesting mystery book with non stereotyped strong female character and my favorite first-person narrative. So I bought it.

Well, I was disappointed.

The main character is indeed sort of interesting, but the book is too slow for my taste. After the author mentioned the murder at Prolog, nothing really occur for a long time. Perhaps some people will enjoy reading about the interaction between characters in DETAIL, but for me, a 240-page mystery novel that doesn't present main conflict until page 110 cannot be qualified as an engaging mystery story. I understand there is a need to set everything up... but half of the book? All I can say is that I am selling this novel to the local used bookstore.

The book description is too misleading. If you want to read good, fast-paced mystery, skip this book (I recommand Janet Evanovich's "One for the Money" instead). ...

Do you ever get tired of mystery heroines being 5'8" and 120 pounds with hair to die for? Tory Bauer, our heroine in Kathleen Taylor's series, is short, frumpy and a waitress with sore feet. Her philandering husband has died (in a car crash while out with a college cheerleader). Delphi, South Dakota, is like any small town on the prairie: everybody's nose is in your business, during the brief lulls in the talk about the miserable weather.

So why do I like these books? I really do like them. Kathleen Taylor can spin a great yarn, and in her own indomitable fashion, Tory Bauer, our heroine, rises above the constraints of her small town life and depressing circumstances, and figures out who-done-it.

In this case Tory finds the body of a young Mormon missionary in the storage closet at the cafe. The clues are there but nicely hidden and the ending comes as quite a surprise.

I've come to care about the eccentrics in Delphi through these books and am eagerly awating publication of the latest in August.

This was my first Kathleen Taylor and I enjoyed it so much that I immediately ordered her other two Tory Bauer books. I love Tory and her wry attitude about her life and the people around her. This is a funny book with realistic characters.The end was a bit much but not to the point that it ruined the book. For readers who like their mysteries with a lighter touch, this is one to read.

Kathleen Taylor, herself a resident of a small town in South Dakota, understands the workings of small towns perfectly. She also understands the art of mystery writing. A must read if you know nothing about the midwest.

In spite of its vast land, South Dakota remains one of the least populated states in the union. Towns are situated many hundreds of miles apart and the people who want to drive into a big city put many hours behind the wheel before reaching their destination. Many of the towns, like Delphi, seem self-sufficent, not much more than small holes in the walls. They have everything its citizens need to survive, though not on a luxurious level. Tony Bauer, a fortyish waitress at the Delphi Cafe was perfectly contented to continue her tranquil but boring existence.

Fate has other plans for Tony. After years of inactivity, her hormones act up when a married man, Stu McKee arrives in town. She is attracted to the newcomer, a feeling that is reciprocated. Tony also finds herself involved in her first criminal investigation when she discovers a corpse of a Mormon missionary stuffed in the cafe's mop closet. With the suspects ranging from her roomate's boyfriend to a deputy sheriff and to a coworker's significant other, Tony begins to snoop. Her new avocation will change her life forever.

Although this is the third Tony Bauer mystery (SEX AND SALMONELLA and THE HOTEL SOUTH DAKOTA) this is actually a prequel to the other two stories. This novel has a first rate story line with an ending that will blow the readers mind. FUNERAL FOOD is the formal introduction of several characters that the audience already cares for. Although Kathleen Taylor may not have planned this, it adds value and enjoyment to fans of the series as interrelationships become understood. Ms. Taylor is a rare talent who writes from the heart.

Harriet Klausner

Unlike some of the bestsellers on the market today, you don't have to wait until the mystery begins before things get interesting in this story. My interest was sparked right from the beginning by characters so real, I felt an instant connection with them. Subtle humor and a good plot make for a very enjoyable read. A friend gave this book to me with a good recommendation (one of the best ways to discover new authors). Now I am anxious to read the other books by Kathleen Taylor.