And Murder for Dessert
2.5/5
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About this ebook
Ellen McKenzie and her fiancé, Chief of Police Dan Dunham, are on their way to the very upscale Harvest Festival Dinner, hosted by Ellen's niece, Sabrina, and her husband, Mark Tortelli. They are seasoned winery professionals. What could go wrong?
New to Silver Springs Winery, the Tortellis have been worried for weeks that their jobs depend on the success of this event, and the reputation of the guest chef hasn't helped calm their nerves. Otto Messinger is noted for his temper tantrums. Ellen is hoping he'll keep himself in check. Dan is hoping the Tortellis, who have been staying with Ellen for a month, will triumph and soon find their own place to live.
Tonight's guest list seems to include everyone who has ever had a feud with Otto, a fact the chef is thoroughly enjoying. The dinner progresses, a little shaky but without disaster. Then it's time for dessert. But where is Otto?
It is Sabrina who finds him, quite dead, in a wine fermenting tank. Who helped him into it? Dan seems to think it was Sabrina. Ellen would prefer Dan find another suspect - and there are plenty....
Kathleen Delaney
Kathleen Delaney, a retired real estate broker, has authored three other Ellen McKenzie mystery novels, using her real estate experience to guide Ellen through the complexities of her transactions. The scenes in the bakery kitchen required extra research. (Bakery people, as it turns out, are not only willing to share their knowledge but also their Cherry Danish.) Besides her novels, Kathleen has contributed to several anthologies, won a national award for short fiction, and published several articles. The mystery novels are set on the Central Coast of California, where Kathleen lived and worked for over twenty years and where she raised her five children, along with Arabian and Half Arabian horses, assorted dogs, cats and, reluctantly, a goat. During that period Kathleen also learned about the Central California wine business—knowledge put to good use in other books. She now lives in a century-old house in South Carolina, enjoying her two dogs, eight grandchildren, writing, experimenting with southern cooking, and, of course, reading.
Read more from Kathleen Delaney
And Murder for Dessert Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Murder by Syllabub Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
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Reviews for And Murder for Dessert
8 ratings2 reviews
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5The murder was clearly delineated quite early in this story because it was obvious who was crazy enough to be homicidal and unlikeable as well. The characters were enjoyable, as was the setting, but certain personal worries were rehashed adnauseum. By the third time it was mentioned that our heroine had serious doubts about getting married, that was plenty, by the fifth time I was sharpening my knife.
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5Realtor Ellen McKenzie is helping as her niece Sabrina prepares for a gala event at the California winery where she and her husband Mark work. The title alerts readers that the murder will occur with the dessert course -- but it seems to take ages to get to that point – almost a quarter of the way into the book. And, even if readers don’t read the blurb on the back of the book, it’s soon apparent from the way the author telegraphs it to readers exactly who the victim will be – the stereotypically obnoxious chef. When our heroine sees police zeroing in on her niece as a suspect, Ellen feels she must defend Sabrina by finding the real killer – thus avoiding a confrontation with Sabrina’s mom, the formidable Catherine. A secondary plot which almost overtakes the murder mystery is Ellen’s angst over her approaching nuptials with fiancé Dan Dunham, the chief of police. All Ellen’s childish nattering, vacillating and whining could be characterized as conduct unbecoming a cozy heroine. In fact, there wasn’t a single character in And Murder for Dessert I truly liked with the possible exception of Aunt Mary. It didn’t help that the uncorrected proof was among the sloppiest I’ve ever read. I also prefer lean writing and, in And Murder for Dessert, it was unpleasantly plump. Review based on publisher- or author-provided review copy.