Monday, March 26, 2018

Cozy Mystery Review: Cinco de Murder by Rebecca Adler

Publishing date: Apr. 3rd 2018

From the Publisher:

ex-Mex waitress and part-time reporter Josie Callahan serves up more Lone Star justice in this spicy mystery from the author of The Good, the Bad, and the Guacamole.
It's fiesta time in Broken Boot, Texas, and tourists are pouring into town faster than free beer at a bull roping for the mouthwatering Cinco de Mayo festivities. Tex-Mex waitress Josie Callahan, her feisty abuela, and even her spunky Chihuahua Lenny are polishing their folklórico dances for Saturday's big parade, while Uncle Eddie is adding his own spicy event to the fiesta menu: Broken Boot's First Annual Charity Chili Cook-off.

But Uncle Eddie's hopes of impressing the town council go up in smoke when cantankerous chili cook Lucky Straw is found dead in his tent. And when Josie's beloved uncle is accused of fatal negligence, she, Lenny, and the steadfast Detective Lightfoot must uncover who ended the ambitious chilihead's life--before another cook kicks the bucket.


My Thoughts:

This was my first time reading a book in the A Taste of Texas Mystery series. At first, my head was spinning a bit, getting to know all the characters in the series, and following along. But I quickly felt at home in Broken Boot, Texas, as setup began for a chili cook-off and Josie has to solve the murder of a chili cook.

I really liked Josie and her little dog, and enjoyed following along as she solved the murder mystery. As in any cozy mystery, some of the typical challenges writing an amateur sleuth who is solving a crime alongside police are there, but the author navigates the genre perfectly. The mystery is solidly plotted, and the supporting cast is just quirky enough to enjoy--I really felt like I wanted to live in Broken Boot, Texas.

What I loved most was exactly this: the different setting. Where so many cozy mysteries are set in a quaint New England town, this series really embraces and celebrates its small town Texas setting.
I'll be reading the first two, and hope there will be more books in the A Taste of Texas Mystery series.

**NetGalley provided copy for review**

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