Eat, Drink and Drop Dead

February 15, 2023
A chef-turned-critic looks like the perfect suspect when a resentful colleague is killed. When her best friend, Hilary Hanson, says that Tiffany Austin has the best job in the world, she isn't kidding. Tiffany's left her high-stress, low-reward position as an assistant head chef in New York City to return to Branson, Georgia, as Southern Style's food critic. The job requires a written column, occasional blog posts, and a lot of dinners out. Tiffany's waistline might not be happy, but she is. Unfortunately, the magazine's newest addition irks diva Jenny Lee Plumm, who's on her way out not just because of her bad attitude, but because editor Dale Swenson is hoping Tiffany can cover Jenny Lee's society beat as part of her blog. Tiffany's none too sure her degree at the Culinary Institute of America has prepared her to talk about designer duds and the like, but she's happy her initial six-month stint will be expanded to a full-time position. Naturally, Jenny Lee is less happy, and the two have a serious blowup. When Jenny Lee dies suddenly thereafter, Tiffany's a prime suspect. To save her hide, Tiffany has to figure out which of Jenny Lee's other enemies had motive enough to kill her. The always grouchy Det. Philip Bartell doesn't take a liking to Tiffany's amateur investigating--or does he? Sensing that there's something more there, Hilary resolves to follow the path of a citizen sleuth and investigate. Easy enough to appeal to a variety of cozy palates.

COPYRIGHT(2023) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

February 20, 2023
After Tiffany Austin, the narrator of this delightful series launch from LoTempio (the Nick and Nora mysteries), has a falling out with her boss at the New York City hotel where she’s the assistant head chef, she returns home to Branson, Ga., for a trial job as food critic for the digital edition of Southern Style and as monthly columnist for the magazine’s print edition. Six months later, Tiffany, a Culinary Institute of America graduate, is offered a permanent position while seasoned columnist Jenny Lee Plumm, whose numbers have been sharply declining recently, is fired. Tiffany feels sorry for Jenny Lee, who has only angry words for Tiffany and threatens “to rattle some skeletons” before stalking out of the office. Late one night soon afterward, the police show up at Tiffany’s door and invite her to come to the police station, where they want to question her about Jenny Lee’s death. To her shock, Tiffany must now defend her reputation, get her name off the suspect list, and find the real murderer. Captivating characters and plenty of intrigue help drive this tale of professional jealousy. Culinary cozy fans will look forward to Tiffany’s further adventures. Agent: Josh Getzler, HG Literary.

March 1, 2023
Tiffany Austin was thrilled to be hired as assistant chef by a prestigious New York hotel after graduating from the Culinary Institute of America. However, after winding up on the "losing end of a very complicated love triangle," she heads home to Branson, Missouri, to lick her wounds--and instead finds herself with a new career as a food writer for Southern Style magazine. Unfortunately, her success does not sit well with Jenny Lee Plumm, a fellow writer at Southern Style, who launches an all-out campaign against her rival. Threats are exchanged on both sides, before Jenny Lee turns up murdered, or and Tiffany becomes the prime suspect. Determined to clear her name, Tiffany decides to play amateur sleuth, even after she's warned (naturally) to stop by hunky Branson police chief Philip Bartell. This light-hearted series debut has oodles of charm, mouth-watering descriptions of southern cuisine (with recipes), and a sassy, savvy heroine. Foodie mystery fans will enjoy it from first course to last.

COPYRIGHT(2023) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

April 1, 2023

Tiffany Austin left her job as an assistant chef in New York to return to Branson, GA. Now her six-month trial as the food blogger and columnist for Southern Style magazine is up. She's excited, but rumors say the magazine will only keep one columnist, Tiffany or Jenny Lee Plumm, who writes "Society 'n' Style." When Jenny Lee is fired, she lets everyone know she'll go down fighting. That includes a loud argument with Tiffany in front of the staff. When Jenny Lee is found dead that night, it only makes sense that Chief of Detectives Bartell will interview Tiffany. Tiffany is convinced there are others with more to lose if Jenny Lee threatened them, so she and her best friend Hilary poke their noses into a few too many places. The police warn them not to investigate, but when Tiffany isn't satisfied with an arrest, she winds up facing a killer. VERDICT The first in a new cozy series by the author of the "Nick and Nora" mysteries is the typical one with an amateur sleuth as a suspect, a hot cop, and recipes. It's sure to satisfy fans of Lucy Burdette's "Key West Food Critic" mysteries.--Lesa Holstine

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