I love my job! Planning parties for others – what fun.

Of course, it takes months of planning. It starts with the idea then add in venue, permits, caterers, flowers and other decorations, prizes, security, promotion, reports. . .it’s not easy being an event planner. But, as I mentioned, it has its moments.

The major problem is that my plans don’t include bodies but it seems that comes with the territory. Take this fabulous fundraising cruise I’d planned for People and Causes, the local literacy group. You can read all about it in Roux the Day, the second in the Diner Club Mysteries. An evening on a floating casino, playing for charity, while the boat cruises from the Burlington harbor and along the shoreline of Champlain Lake. Romantic, too.

Until one of the emcees, Miranda Myers, a local TV personality ends up dead. The other problem is that my pal Connor Mac, who’s also a member of our Culinary Capers Dinner Club, is the main suspect. Partly because they’d been engaged (he hadn’t told me even though we’d been dating, sort of), they’d argued, and he’s now gone missing.

I just had to get involved, especially since Lt. ‘Hashtag’ had me on that suspect list as a jealous lover. Of course, the other foodies in the Culinary Capers were eager to help. But beware of what you wish, which was finding a killer.

What a web of romance, intrigue, politics, and jealousy our beautiful Miranda had become entangled in. And I almost lost my life trying to unravel it.

Of course, the best part was working again with the delicious P.I. Ty Devine.

And, then there are the recipes. Our dinner club chose the Mystery Writers of America Cookbook for our dishes at our dinner this month. And, you’ll find three of those recipes, from Sara Paretsky, Lisa King, and Cathy Pickens, re-printed at the end of Roux the Day.

So back, to my job. Would I trade it? Not on my life!

You can read more about J.J. in Roux The Day, the second book in the “Dinner Club” mystery series.

In the latest mystery from the author of Toasting Up Trouble, the Culinary Capers dinner club is back in business when a charity casino event makes a real killing. . .

Event planner Jennifer “J.J.” Tanner is planning a cruise ship casino night—and she’s really going overboard. She even arranged for radio DJ Connor Mac and TV personality Miranda Myers to help the good times roll. But the party comes to a screeching halt when Miranda is found dead on the main deck. . .

With a boatload of suspects, the police focus in on J.J., who, though recently linked with Connor, never knew he was once engaged—to Miranda. With Half Moon Bay’s gossip mill running full tilt, J.J. turns to her fellow dinner club members to help fish for clues and keep herself out of hot water. . .

Includes delicious recipes

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About the author
Linda Wiken leads a double life writing the Dinner Club Mysteries and, as Erika Chase, she has the Ashton Corners Book Club Mysteries. A former mystery bookstore owner, she was short-listed for an Agatha for Best First Novel, and an Arthur Ellis Award, Best Short Story, from Crime Writers of Canada. She contributes to the Mystery Lovers’ Kitchen and Killer Characters blogs. You should see her cookbook collection! She admits to a passion for choral singing, chocolate and Siamese cats! Connect with Linda at www.lindawiken.com.

All comments are welcomed.

Roux The Day is available at retail and online booksellers or you can ask your local library to get it for you.