Death of a Kitchen Diva

Lee Hollis

Oct 2011 · Hayley Powell Mystery Book 1 · Kensington Books

About this ebook

A bowl of chowder is a Maine food writer’s last meal in this “delicious and satisfying” mystery (Carolyn Hart, New York Times-bestselling author of the Death on Demand series).
 
Single mom Hayley Powell is barely keeping her leaking roof over her head in Bar Harbor, Maine, when her boss at the Island Times gives her a new assignment—taking over the paper’s food column. Hayley’s not sure she has the chops—she’s an office manager, not a writer, even if her friends clamor for her mouth-watering potluck dishes. But the extra income is tempting, and Hayley’s chatty first column is suddenly on everyone's menu—with one exception.
 
When rival food writer Karen Appelbaum is found dead facedown in a bowl of Hayley’s creamy clam chowder, all signs point to Hayley. To clear her name, she’ll have to enlist some help, including her BFFs, a perpetually pregnant lobster woman, and a glamorous real estate agent. As she whips up a list of suspects, Hayley discovers a juicy secret about the victim—and finds herself in a dangerous mix with a cold-blooded killer.
 
Includes seven delectable recipes from Hayley’s kitchen!
 
“What a delicious debut mystery!” —Laura Levine, author of Death of a Gigolo
 
“I ate up in one sitting.” —Isis Crawford, author of A Catered Book Club Murder
 
“Sleuth Hayley Powell slides down as easily as one of her Lemon Drop Martinis (recipe included) and readers will be calling for a second round from author Lee Hollis.” —Leslie Meier, New York Times-bestselling author of Christmas Card Murder

Ratings and reviews

When Hayley Powell, office manager of a Bar Harbor, Maine newspaper, is assigned to write a food and cocktails column, she doesn't know what kind of trouble she stirs up. After her first column, a competing columnist, Karen Applebaum from the other paper, accuses Hayley of stealing the recipe. Then Hayley is engaged in food fight. To top it off, the other columnist steals Hayley's clam chowder recipe and then dies after eating some. Of course, Hayley is the prime suspect. To clear her name, Hayley, along with her friends and brother, must investigate the case. Who could be the murderer? Karen's estranged conspiracy theorist son who lives in the woods? The pharmacist’s wife? What about Karen's ex-husband? Or could it be a mysterious lover of Karen's? Hayley must solve the crime before she is jailed for murder, or the real murderer kills her! This debut by Hollis is another in a long line of food-related mysteries so popular these days. It is full of fun and quirky characters – the gay police chief who has trouble with the English language; the egotistical crime beat reporter; Hayley's friend, the lobster woman, who is constantly pregnant; Hayley's typical teenage children; and the attractive caretaker of a wealthy codger's estate. Food and spirit recipes are included, in the form of newspaper columns. I enjoyed the humor liberally added, especially in the funeral scene. The action is tight and the writing is lighthearted. I will be putting Hollis' name on my 'to buy' list for future food and cocktails mysteries.

I absolutely loved this book and I'm so glad I bought it on a whim. I also love that it gives you real and really good sounding recipes!! I literally couldn't stop reading because I was so enthralled!!

Book went fast , always something going on, never got bored .

About the author

LEE HOLLIS is the pen name for Rick Copp, a veteran Hollywood screenwriter who has written for numerous television series, including The Golden Girls, Wings,Scooby-Doo, Teen Titans, and Barbershop. He is the co-writer of The Brady Bunch Movie and has written a number of novels under his own name. He also produces, writes, and stars in the hit web series Where the Bears Are. With his sister Holly Simason, he co-authors the Hayley Powell Food & Cocktail Mysteries book series using the Lee Hollis name. He lives in Palm Springs, California.