Book Review – Death of a Kitchen Diva
By Craig Thornton
Story Published: Feb 21, 2012 at 12:05 PM EST
Story Updated: Feb 21, 2012 at 12:07 PM EST
Like a luxurious foot massage, a huge mug of hot chocolate with a mountain of whip cream or your favorite glass of Pinot Grigio on a Friday after a grueling work week, Death of a Kitchen Diva, by Lee Hollis takes you to your happy place.
Set in Bar Harbor Maine, Death of a Kitchen Diva follows the often hilarious misadventures of food columnist turned sleuth Hayley Powell. A single mother of two teenagers, Hayley is the lively office manager of the small town paper “The Island Times.” When the nonagenarian food columnist finally resigns, Hayley takes on the job. After all she is a whiz in the kitchen and she needs the extra money desperately. This fun and lucrative plan turns serious quickly as Hayley’s rival, Karen Applebaum (food columnist at the “Bar Harbor Herald”) is murdered with a deadly Clam Chowder recipe and Hayley becomes the prime suspect.
This comic mystery is chock full of small town intrigue and hysterical, deftly drawn characters. These include a mysterious, sexy landscaper, an unbathed survivalist who lives on the far side of the island, a gay Brazilian chief of police whose trouble with English provides funny malapropisms and a mother, with a slew of children, who drives a Lobster boat.
The comic elements don’t deter from the impeccable structure, which keeps you turning pages as quickly as you can stir your Lobster Bisque recipe. Hayley dogs down every lead possible, putting her own life in jeopardy to uncover the real killer as she tries to clear her name. Sprinkled throughout the novel are great recipes taken directly from Hayley’s columns which are published as separate chapters in the book. At the end of the book, there is a complete dinner menu with cocktails, appetizers and dessert. It is a comic recipe mystery!
Lee Hollis is a nom de plume, for a brother/sister writing team and art imitates life in Death of a Kitchen Diva as the sister writes for a Bar Harbor, Maine newspaper. Her column is an entertaining take on her daily personal life, with great recipes tossed in. The brother is a veteran film and television writer who has also published four mystery novels. What a fantastic writing team. Kensington Publishing has given the duo a three book deal, with Death of a Kitchen Diva being released on March 4, 2012 and the next book Death of a Country Fried Redneck due out in November, 2012. You can buy the book from Amazon – check out the author’s page.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading “Death of a Kitchen Diva” on our Spring break. Can’t wait for the next book!
Thank you so much! Lee Hollis
In all honesty wasn’t going to get this book, I’m not a fan of this types of czeios,but i must admit it was a awesome read. I actually endede up finishing it in one afternoon and I only to do that a select few of my favorite authors. But I’ll most defrintley being adding you guys to that list, it was a fun read light a quick and down right fun in most parts. My one problem with it though are her best friends that lack depth at least at the beginning around the end i could see why their friends. I loved her brother and the sheriff now that was good. Good luck with your writing and new fan.
Thanks for giving Haley a read and your nice comments! Her new adventure “Death of a Country Fried Redneck” will be released Nov. 6, 2012! Lee Hollis
I just finished reading your book, Death of a kitchen diva, and wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed it. I could hardly put it down. I am waiting for the next one. Loved it.
Is it November yet??? Fishished Death of a Kitchen Diva and can’t wait for Death of a Country Fried Redneck to come out. Loved your recipes…….
Thank you for reading! November will be right around the corner! Lee Hollis
Just finished your book Death of a Kitchen Diva. Absolutely loved it immensely! Thank you for including two of your supporting characters as two gay men. I’m a gay man myself and really appreciated it. Can’t wait for Death of a CountryFried Redneck!
Chris
Just read your first 2 collaborations. Loved them. I thought about what the characters look like, and then I saw your pictures at the back of the book. Now I see the 2 of you when I read the books. Waiting for my library to get the third book.
Now I am going to read 2 of Rick’s books, which my library carries.