Author: Leslie Karst
Series: A Sally Solari Mystery
Publication: Crooked Lane Books (April 12, 2016)
Description: After losing her mother to cancer, Sally Solari quits her job as an attorney to help her dad run his old-style Italian eatery in Santa Cruz, California. But managing the front of the house is far from her dream job.
Then in a sudden twist her Aunt Letta is found murdered in her own restaurant, and Sally is the only one who can keep the place running. But when her sous chef is accused of the crime, and she finds herself suddenly short-staffed, Sally must delve into the world of sustainable farming—not to mention a few family secrets--to help him clear his name and catch the true culprit before her timer runs out.
Leslie Karst serves a platter of intrigue in her stirring and satisfying debut Dying for a Taste, which is sure to become a new favorite of food mystery fans.
My Thoughts: Sally Solari joined her father in the family's Italian restaurant in Santa Cruz, California, after her mother died of cancer. Sally had been a corporate lawyer but wasn't happy in that career. Unfortunately, she isn't happy running the front of the house for her father either. When her Aunt Letta is murdered, Sally finds herself investigating the crime.
Sally finds that she has inherited the restaurant from her aunt and, if she wants it to survive, she has to find another suspect than her head chef. The police think he makes the perfect suspect. He was the last to see Letta alive and his favorite chef knife was the murder weapon.
Sally uncovers a number of other possible suspects when she begins to look into her aunt's life. Is it her fiance? Is it the old lover who now supplies produce to the restaurant? Is it someone who wants the restaurant to serve responsibly raised meat? The more Sally investigates, the more suspects she uncovers.
I liked Sally and could understand her search for the career that is right for her. I liked her friendship with her ex-boyfriend. I liked the tangled family relationships in the story. And the recipes at the end of the book sound good too.
Favorite Quote:
My dad does a spaghetti Bolognese at Solari's that's a pretty hot seller, but it's nothing compared to Nonna's Sunday gravy. When I say "gravy," I don't mean the kind you'd serve over fried chicken and mashed potatoes. This is Italian gravy, and Nonna's is the very best there is.I received this one from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. You can buy your copy here.
That cover art could be a place here on the bay where I live! I love it. And my addiction for cozies is itching to grab up this series. A new author for me! Sounds like a winner too.
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