If Cooks Could Kill: An Angie Amalfi Mystery (Angie Amalfi Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

by Joanne Pence (Author) "Connie Rogers glanced down at herself to make sure her brand new black lace Wonderbra was still doing its job and her boobs hadn't sagged..." (more)
Key Phrases: Max Squire, Veronica Maple, San Francisco (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

With another failed business behind her, dilettante chef Angie Amalfi is cooking up a new scheme: Pairing up her best friend Connie with a handsome professional football player who just happens to be related to the owner of her favorite Italian restaurant. Soon Connie takes more interest in a suspicious loner than Angie's "dream man" and her despondent friend decides to recreate herself as a restaurant consultant. But when police begin to suspect that Connie and her new love interest are connected with a brutal murder and robbery, Angie and her homicide detective fiance Paavo must try to track down the real killer. And when the trail of clues begins to lead back to Angie's favorite restaurant, it's up to Angie to set things right -- or the only recipe on the menu may be one for disaster.

About the Author
Joanne Pence is the author of the Angie Amalfi mystery series.Angie wants two things in life--a good job and San Francisco Homicide Inspector Paavo Smith, but culinary crime keeps getting in the way.Joanne grew up amidst the cultural diversity and culinary excellence of San Francisco, and that setting provides a rich "flavor" to her books.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Avon (December 31, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060548215
• ISBN-13: 978-0060548216
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #615,594 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book to curl up with., January 16, 2003

By	Huntress Reviews (United States) - See all my reviews

Angie is in Heaven. She has finally gotten her beloved cop, Paavo, to commit to an engagement, and now has visions of the perfect wedding dancing in her head. Meanwhile, Paavo is ready to just elope and have done with it.

Now, Angie wants to share the love. She constantly devises romantic, tasty concoctions that are ruining the waistline of the local police precinct, and is doing her best to make sure everyone, best friend included, have the same joy she has with love. Unfortunately, all her plans are being continually interrupted with job offers and a murder.What makes it worse is that someone close to her may be involved, as in the killer.

**** With the typical, loveable madcap antics we have come to expect, Ms. Pence tickles our funny bone as we revisit beloved characters once more. Though the suspense and plot may be light, they are ever refreshing, and as a bonus, some of Angie's favorite treats have recipes in the back of the book. ****

Reviewed by Amanda Killgore.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Another good one, December 31, 2002

By A Customer

Angie is a little too much to take sometimes, but the other characters in the book make up for her. The mystery is solid and Joanne Pence keeps you quickly turning the pages with her writing style. She offers humor and excitement from the 1st page to the last. Though I wish she would tone Angie down a little to make her less irritating, Paavo keeps getting better and better and the other supporting characters seem to be further developed with each book making them seem like real people. Joanne Pence is definitely an author I would still buy in hardback. The enjoyment she offers would be worth the hardback cost.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars five star gourmet delight, January 17, 2003

By	Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews (#1 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

In San Francisco, Angie Amalfi feels love is in the air after SFPD Detective Paavo Smith proposed so she arranges a date between her best friend Connie Rogers and a football star, but the jock fails to show up at the café where they were to meet. Instead, nervous rumpled Max Squires, a former financial guru, plops down at Connie's table. He desperately needs help to clear his name and regain the money embezzled by Veronica Mapes from his clients. Unable to resist the pathetic looking shlump, Connie agrees to assist him.

However, Connie soon finds she needs aid too, as the police make inquiries into her connections to a jewelry robbery, a murder, and Max. Angie knows she must help her buddy so she begins investigating even while her beloved Paavo tries to persuade her that there are already too many cooks on the trail. Her show of friendship places Angie in danger from unknown assailants.

IF LOOKS COULD KILL is a fun culinary mystery that amusingly cautions the audience on the dangers of a friend in need is a pest at least for the Good Samaritan lead cook and her pal. The two women try to help, but jump into pots of dangerous situations. The story line never takes itself too seriously yet master chef Joanne Pence provides fans with a solid amateur sleuth investigation. IF COOKS COULD KILL is the latest five star gourmet delight that will send readers seeking other entrees from Ms. Pence.

Harriet Klausner