My daughter, Hayley, gave me the nicest Christmas present ever–a weekend trip to visit her in Key West and a ticket to the Key West Loves Literature seminar, which was all about food writing this year. I was in heaven–there were cookbook writers, and food fiction authors, and food critics–and my gosh, my daughter hobnobbed with all of them. And then I got to meet her new heartthrob, Detective Nathan Bransford. Don’t tell Hayley, but I’m still the teeniest bit worried about her taste in men…
I had so many amazing experiences over the weekend, though it didn’t go as smoothly as we expected. Good lord, one of the panelists was murdered! Even so I loved having lunch at La Creperie with the novelist Sigrid Gustafson and my favorite cookbook writer, Yoshe King. I don’t think Hayley would mind if I show you a little bit of the book right here:
“The waitress delivered our meals: Greek salads thick with feta cheese and nicoise olives folded into buckwheat pancakes for Yoshe and Hayley, a spinach and mushroom omelet for me, and the ham and cheese sandwich topped with two eggs over easy and an order of French fries on the side for Sigrid.
“Besides, if the conference sponsors aren’t happy,” Sigrid said, plunging her knife into the sandwich so that yoke flowed like yellow lava over the ham onto the crunchy stalks of potato, “Dustin’s out of a job.” She carved off a large corner of her sandwich, mopped it through the pool of egg yolk, and wolfed it down.
As we ate, the conversation turned toward admiration of the food—the crispy tang of the buckwheat pancakes, the creamy feta, the fresh tomatoes. A vinaigrette with a secret ingredient. Extra garlic? Tarragon? Mustard? No one agreed.
“Tell us about your new project,” I said to Yoshe. “You didn’t get a chance to expand on its ‘point of view’.”
Yoshe blushed furiously and looked hard at me, like maybe she’d underestimated me–figured I was just a bored housewife from New Jersey.
“What I meant by that is that no cooking occurs in a vacuum. In fact the best recipes sprouted in some grandmother’s kitchen somewhere. Doesn’t matter whether she was Polish or Italian or a pioneer woman from Iowa. We need to learn from the women who came before us.”
I leaned forward and grabbed her hand. “When Hayley graduated from college, I gave her a box of my mother’s recipes—written in her own hand. And a few from my mother’s mother and my mother-in-law. Some of them are delicious and some simple and several just awful, but the point is, they demonstrate the history of these women in such a tangible, personal way. And it’s our history too—we’re all connected.”
“Exactly!” said Yoshe. “I should have hired you to write the preface.”
Now I blushed and ducked my head.
“The food of my ancestors sucked,” said Sigrid with a big belly laugh. “That’s why I write fiction.”
It’s me again, Janet. I don’t mean to brag, but did I tell you that my name was mentioned in the Publishers Weekly review of Death In Four Courses? “Outspoken Mom provides tart commentary as Hayley once again turns sleuth. Anyone who’s ever overpaid for a pretentious restaurant meal will relish this witty cozy.” I hope you’ll enjoy the book!
You can read more about Janet in Death In Four Courses, the second book in the “Key West Food Critic” mystery series. The first book in the series is An Appetite For Murder.
** Thanks to the publisher, I have one (1) copy of DEATH IN FOUR COURSES to give away. Contest open to residents of the US only. Contest ends September 10. Leave a valid-email address with your comment. The book will be shipped directly from the publisher. **
Meet the author
Lucy Burdette is the author of the Key West food critic mysteries, most recently Death In Four Courses. She also wrote 8 mysteries as Roberta Isleib You are invited to follow her on twitter (www.twitter.com/lucyburdette) or Facebook (www.facebook.com/lucyburdette) or check out her website (www.lucyburdette.com) where the artwork is gorgeous and the recipes to die for.
Books are available at retail and online booksellers.
I would love to win! 🙂 I loved the 1st book in the series! sarah2323 at gmail dot com
First book in this series was a fun read. The 2nd is currently next on my TBR list, so I would love to win this one. Thanks. kuzlin(at)aol(dot)com.
Thank you for the chance to win. I enjoy your reviews and the time you put into them.
griperang at embarqmail dot com
The first book was fantastic and funny. I can’t wait for the next book. I love your reviews and I put the books I want to read in my web to read. When you have the monthly new books, I print your list and go search to see what I want to read. Thank you for all your hard work.
thanks Shonda
I guess I forgot an email
saba121167(at)usa(dot)com
Love food shows and books centering on food. Love to eat but hate to cook. This sounds like a fun book/series!
kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com
I like the characters in this post. I’m a sucker for any kind of culinary fiction, but a series set in Key West sounds even more interesting!
Oh hooray for all you mystery readers and fans of Dru:). thanks for stopping by and fingers crossed for the winner! xo Lucy
Hey Dru,
I’m definitely up for another trip to Key West and a mystery. I’d love to be the winner of Death in Four Courses (as long as it’s not from my cooking).
Ooops. forgot to leave an e-mail addie.
NoraAdrienne(at)gmail(dot)com
Another book to add to the list! Nothing better than a mystery except a mystery with food!
Afarage(at)earthlink(dot)net
I love food cozies—I have to get up and go the the kitchen so many times while reading them, though.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
I’ve some catching up to do with this series, but I’m ready for this one. Please put me in the draw. Thanks. judydee22002@yahoo dot com
Hope you all will enjoy, but I am warning you–eat before you read!!
xo Lucy
I loved the first one in this series and have set aside time this weekend to read this one. These books are so much fun!
I would love to receive Lucy Burdette”s Death in Four Courses. What a great idea for a mystery series about a Key West food critic. One of my favorite things — food. I’m addicted to cook shows. Thanks for the opportunity to win one of Lucy’s books.
6186pep(at)msn(dot)com
I loved your first book. Thanks for writing this wonderful series. Looking forward to read book 2. elisanabby at gmail dot com
Sounds good. I haven’t tried this series yet.
spookycat72(at)gmail(dot)com
Haylee and her Mom are both a hoot! Love them, love the series, love Key West. Wavlbv53@aol.com
I would love to win this one! This sounds like a great series!
I enjoyed your review. =)
readinginks ( at ) gmail ( dot ) com
I love Key West!!
I wish you all could win:). Have a great weekend!
What a fun series. Looking forward to reading this second book. Thanks for the great review!
jrobinson12 (at) austin (dot) rr (dot) com
I love food cozies too and haven’t had the pleasure of reading anything by Lucy Burdette yet! And I have been to Florida but have never made it all the way to the Keys. I am aching to go there!
I recently bought the first book and I would love to win the second.
mobn(at)heedles(dot)net
The book sounds fantastic – thanks for the chance!
adrianecoros(at)gmail(dot)com
FOOD + COZY MYSTERY = i’m sooooo there!!!
thank you for the giveaway!!!
I love this series. Looking forward to adding this book to my reading column.
contest is closed.
Congrats to Shonda