“Four little judges, judging for TV. One swinging from the mast, and then there were three. Three little judges, tasting wine and roux. One couldn’t swim, and then there were two. . .” TOPPED CHEF
I should be honest with you right? Here’s the truth: My writer doesn’t know the first thing about reality TV. She doesn’t watch SURVIVOR or DANCING WITH THE STARS or even TOP CHEF. (At least my mother and I enjoy cooking shows like Emeril and Paula Deen and Rachel Ray–second guessing the cooking stars is a blood sport in my family.) Anyway, where in the world she got the idea that I should be a judge for the Key West Topped Chef contest, I will never know.
I am crazy about my job as food critic for Key Zest magazine. Eating at Key West restaurants and talking and writing about their food–for me, this is a dream come true. And it took a lot to land this gig–given that one of the co-owners hates my guts. So when my boss, Wally (yes, him of the nerdy glasses, yellow palm tree shirt, and adorable dimples), mentioned that he’d signed me up as a last-minute judge, what could I do but swallow hard and march forward? And, as I told myself, what could be so hard about tasting food and saying what you like and why?
But until my writer got the bright idea of talking with someone who actually works in the biz, I had no idea that the TV staff is always trying to push the poor contestants to the brink. They spot a little conflict between chefs or judges, for example, and turn up the heat. Get them talking about each other or confessing little weaknesses–and then they find out the cameras have been running the whole time. And sometimes the staff has even picked out the winner before the show starts. Of course this kind of favoritism is revealed in how they treat the contestants. As you can imagine, the bad feelings snowball. . .
The one thing none of us anticipated was that the TV show would turn murderous. Go ahead and ask the question you’re thinking: Why can’t you just stay out of it Hayley Snow? Here’s why: Because I could be the next victim–and the cops don’t seem to be taking the situation that seriously. Fingers crossed that I figure all this out before something really tragic happens. . .
Thanks to Penguin, I have one (1) copy of TOPPED CHEF to give away. Leave a comment to be included in the giveaway. The book will be shipped directly from the publisher. Contest ends May 12; US entries only per publisher’s request.
Check out the trailer:
Cozy Mystery Tour is also offering a tour wide giveaway for Kindle books, a Kindle Touch and gift cards. There are four prize packages for authors Victoria Hamilton, Lucy Burdette, Billie Thomas, and Marie Moore. 
The prizes are –
Prize 1 (US/Canada only) : a Kindle Touch, a $15 Amazon.com giftcard
Prize 2 (International): a Kindle copy of Topped Chef and Bowled Over, a $15 Book Depository giftcard
Prize 3 (International): a Kindle copy of Murder on the First Day of Christmas & Game Drive, a $15 Amazon.com giftcard
Prize 4 (US/Canada): your choice of a cozy mystery paperbacks (up to $25 in value)
Click here to enter for this contest. Giveaway ends on May 15, 2013 at midnight and the winners will be contacted via email.
Meet the author
Lucy Burdette is the author of the Key West food critic mysteries, including An Appetite For Murder and Death In Four Courses (www.lucyburdette.com). As Roberta Isleib, she also written the advice column and golf lovers mystery series. Her books and stories have been short-listed for Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity awards. You can find her on Facebook and Twitter.
Books are available at retail and online booksellers.
This book is already on my “to read” list. Lucy Burdette is one of my favorite authors and I look forward to new additions to her on-going series. This one promises to be just as delightful as the other books in the series!
This series is really good!!
This series is on my list, too. Dee
Thanks for inviting me over today Dru! I feel a little better just getting all that off my mind. xo Hayley Snow
Thank you for the chance to win this. I love the title of this book and enjoy the series.
i so enjoyed this series!!!!
can’t wait to read this book!!!
thank you for the giveaway!!!
Thank you for the chance to win this. I too have never watched a reality show. No really. Not Survivor, Idol, Big Brother, or any other. Not a single episode and I don’t feel slighted by it in the least (despite my friends saying I am missing out on pop culture) I read instead and I’d love a chance to read this.
Thanks for the opportunity. It’s a great series!
I love these books and would love to win 🙂
I love Hayley Snow! This is such an enjoyable series! Go, Lucy, go!
Here is another to add to the list…thank you! lol
always looking for new series to read. cannot wait to read.
I haven’t read any in the series yet, but guess what I’ll be doing today! It sounds like a very good book and I look forward to reading it! I love discovering new series.
I loved the previous book in this series and just know that this one will be a hit also. I’m a foodie and a part time paid chef… I would NEVER want to get involved in the cutthroat world of competitive cooking… I really do value my life. LOL
I would also love to add this book to my home library.
NoraAdrienne(at)gmail(dot)com
I would love to read it.
This book sounds delightful and unique. What a great giveaway. Many thanks.
This is on my TBR list.
Sounds very good. Would love to win.
I like this series and sure hope Hayley survives her judging stint! Thanks for the chance to win.
This series sounds really good, would love to win !
This sounds like so much fun! I cannot wait to read it! I’m not big on reality TV, but I do watch DWTS a little and So You Think You Can Dance – so, okay, I like dance shows… 🙂
I like dance shows as well. They are about the only reality shows I do enjoy. Love to win a copy of your book, Lucy. Thanks for the giveaway. judydee22002@yahoo dot com
These insights into reality shows confirm my suspicions–they are a variation of Sat. night wrestling, that is, theatre.
I love cozies and love Top Chief but a cozy with a Top Chief theme. This is a must read for me! Thank you for this giveaway.
CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com
I enjoy reading mysteries and the cozy mysteries are wonderful. I really love the covers because they just scream “You know you want to read me!”
I have wanted to try this series for a while.
I must put this book on my wish list!
This sounds like a great series that I’ve managed to miss. That will have to change. And Camille, I love your comment…. cozy mystery covers just can’t be ignored!
Key West is such a great setting for mysteries—it just gets me in the mood.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
Contest is closed, but comments are always welcome