Can salt water taffy kill someone?
I love this Jersey shore boardwalk favorite, but I never thought it could be used as a murder weapon.
Hi. I’m Lucy Berberian. I left a Philadelphia law firm to mange my family’s Mediterranean restaurant, Kebab Kitchen, at the Jersey shore. Spring is in the air and the beach town is gearing up for tourist season, town-wide Easter egg hunts, and Bikers on the Beach—a motorcycle gathering that raises money for injured veterans. My head chef—who happened to break my heart after college—is my “new” beau. I wasn’t sure about giving him a second chance, especially since we work together every day. But a wacky boardwalk tarot card reader saw something in my cards. Who can argue with tarot?
One of the best parts about moving back home is connecting with my friends, Katie, and boardwalk candy store owner Melanie. I recently moved out of Katie’s home to find my own place. I love Katie and her husband, but it was time. How long could I crash in their house and eat their morning doughnuts? I was lucky enough to find the second floor of an eighty-year-old widow’s home. My landlady might be a bit eccentric and get into trouble at times, but we have smoothed things over. As for her temperamental shih tzu, Cupid, and my feisty orange and black cat, Gadoo, things haven’t been so smooth.
But things are looking up and I’m planning on hosting a Mediterranean Easter dinner, complete with lamb kebabs, for my family and friends at my new apartment. When the motorcycle-riding owner of a bicycle rental shop next door to the restaurant invites me and my girlfriends to a beach bonfire for a night of fun, who can say no? The sound of the surf, the ocean breeze, and the blazing bonfire all make for a unique experience. But when a disliked landlord is found dead on the beach after choking on a piece of Melanie’s famous salt water taffy, I know my friend is in sticky mess of trouble. Can I find the killer before this popular confection disappears from the boardwalk forever and the real killer costs free?
If you want to find out where Lucy’s adventures lead her and her friends and quirky family, please pick up Hummus and Homicide, Stabbed, Stabbed in the Baklava, and One Feta in the Grave, the first three books in the “Kebab Kitchen” mystery series. All the books can be read as stand-alone novels.
Giveaway! Do you like salt water taffy? If not, what is your favorite type of candy? Just comment for a chance to win either an e-book (Nook or Kindle) or a singed print copy of the first book in the Kebab Kitchen series, Hummus and Homicide (winners’ choice of ebook or print, but U.S. residents only for a print copy). Giveaway ends on February 23, 2020. Good luck!
On The Lamb is the fourth book in the “Kebab Kitchen” mystery series, coming February 25, 2020.
Lucy Berberian is busy preparing her family’s Mediterranean restaurant for Easter on the Jersey Shore—but a batch of sweets is to die for . . .
Bikers are thundering into the seaside town of Ocean Crest for the annual Bikers on the Beach gathering that raises funds for injured veterans. It’s a big boost for the Kebab Kitchen, as well as for local businesses like Melanie Haven’s candy shop. But Melanie is about to find herself in a sticky situation.
When Melanie and Lucy attend a beach bonfire, a local landlord is found dead after apparently choking on a piece of salt water taffy. Melanie, who was known to have a contentious relationship with the victim, is quickly skewered as the prime suspect. But Lucy is determined to prove her friend’s innocence before the real killer coasts free . . .
Recipes included!
“Clever and charming . . . A culinary delight that will have readers salivating over the food and hungry for literary answers.” —RT Book Reviews, 4 Stars, on Hummus and Homicide
“A series that will prove delightful for cozy fans.” —Parkersburg News & Sentinel
Purchase Link
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About the author
Tina Kashian, previously published as Tina Gabrielle, is a bestselling author, an attorney, and a mechanical engineer whose love of reading for pleasure helped her get through years of academia. Tina spent her childhood summers at the Jersey shore building sandcastles, boogie boarding, and riding the boardwalk Ferris wheel. She also grew up in the restaurant business, as her Armenian parents owned a restaurant for thirty years. Tina’s books have been Barnes & Noble top picks, and the first book in her Kebab Kitchen Mediterranean mystery series, Hummus and Homicide, spent six weeks on the B&N bestseller list.
Please visit her website at tinakashian.com to join her newsletter, receive delicious recipes, enter contests, and more! You can also connect with Tina on Facebook, on Twitter, and on Instagram.
All comments are welcomed.
I love salt water taffy! So many flavors to choose from, but key lime is a favorite.
Dental work makes it difficult for me, but I used to enjoy it.
This is a terrific series.
Hi Terry! I love key lime pie
I like some flavors of taffy, but my favorite candies are really dark chocolate & Sweettarts. So excited for your new release, it’s a terrific series. Thanks for the chance to win a book! Renee
when I eat chocolate, I also prefer dark chocolate. Thank you Renee!
I love salt water taffy. I do not have a particular flavor though.
I love salt water taffy, although I hardly ever see it anymore. I lived in New Jersey when I was a small child and went to the shore a lot. These books sound like fun.
Hi Sharon! Salt water taffy is mostly available in NJ, but you can order online from any of the boardwalk candy shops. Thank you for stopping by!
No doubt, Cherry taffy! We lived in Jersey
Loved the boardwalks for a few moments just for lemonades and saltwater taffy. Then onward to the shore.
This book sounds fun, cute interesting story.I love a dog in stories -Cupid will be perfect ( “‘)(“”)
Thanks for a fabulous review.
Gkathgoldin@yahoo.com
I never had salt water taffy. I can’t eat chewy types of candy. I like peanut butter cups. I would like to win this book. Sounds like a great series to try on ny birthday on February 25.
Taffy is delicious thank you for the chance
I think I had taffy once & didn’t like the stickiness of it on my teeth…
My all-time favorite is KIT KAT!!!
Oh my gosh! Kit Kats are my youngest daughter’s favorite. She can eat too many of the smaller ones at once.
I do like salt water taffy though it’s not my favorite. Fruit-flavored Gummy Bears are my absolute favorite!
Hi Jeanne! Gummy Bears are high on my list as well.
I like salt water taffy. Last time I had it was at Myrtle Beach!
Hi Cherisse, Wow! I didn’t know they sold salt water taffy at Myrtle Beach. Thanks for letting me know.
Hi, Tina…I love your series. I like salt water taffy but don’t buy it very much. Every year, there are a couple of stands that sell salt water taffy at the Texas State Fair. My favorite flavors are key lime and cherry.
How interesting to know salt water taffy is sold in Texas. Thank you for reading, Christi!
I used to eat salt water taffy when I was a kid. I prefer dark chocolate these days.
M&M’s. … could live on those!
Hi Tami,
M&M are addictive. We can’t keep a big bag in the house with the kids.
I do like saltwater taffy. Hard to say what my favorite candy is, though I’m always in the mood for cinnamon so probably red hots.
I was lucky enough to read an ARC of On The Lamb and I loved it and highly recommend the book! I would love to win a copy of Hummus and Homicide.
Hi Katherine,
Thank you so much for reading the ARC of “On the Lamb.” I appreciate the time it takes to read and review. As for candy, my husband enjoys red hots. They are too hot for me!
I love salt water taffy. When I was a child, a neighboring town always had a fourth of July festival and there was a company that came in that made taffy. It was always fun to stand in front of it and watch the taffy being stretched, cut and then wrapped in the waxed paper. Of course I always saved enough money to buy a box. It would be great to be able to claim this ARC of Hummus and Homicide.
Hi Robin,
One of our favorite things to do when we visit the boardwalk is to watch the candy makers stretch the taffy and make fudge. Fun to eat it too!
I love salt water taffy, always have! Making taffy was one of the things we did at my 16th birthday party, what an experience that was, lol.
Thank you for the chance to win a copy of this book.
wfnren at aol dot com
Hi Wendy,
How nice to make taffy for your sixteenth birthday! I have to look up this idea for my daughter’s next birthday.
Thanks for this lovely giveaway. When we were at the Jersey shore we saw how they made salt water taffy. I enjoy any type of milk chocolate.
I do love fresh salt water taffy, nothing beats it! But, I don’t have a good supply of it, so chocolate is the way to go! Thanks!
I’m a chocoholic at heart. Dark chocolate is my weakness!
I do love salt water taffy. We have the Roman Candy Man who sells the taffy from a strolling cart in a few places in our city. Yummy.
Hi Carolyn, I’ve never heard of a Roman Candy Man selling candy. It’s a neat idea. I know I’d buy from him.
I love salt water taffy. The flavor that I would have to pick as my favorite flavor would have to be huckleberry.
I love salt water taffy, I have to be careful in case it takes my crown off ! LOL Great review thank you
Penney
Hi Penney,
It is super sticky. Dentists hate it!
I like taffy but it’s hard to find around here, and in limited flavors when you do. I hope there’s a taffy recipe included in the book! 😉
I love salt water taffy, and really any kind of candy–I have a real sweet tooth–and Easter with all of its goodies is just around the corner.
I tried salt water taffy once as a kid. Whatever I had was bland and I haven’t had it since. I loved a Belgian candy called Napoleons. They had a hard shell and a soft or liquid inside and were a tart lemon flavor. I haven’t seen them in years but boy! were they good.
Hi Pat,
I haven’t tried this type of candy, but it sounds yummy.
Hi Pat,
I haven’t tried this type of candy, but it sounds yummy.
My two favorites are tootsie rolls, and starburst jelly beans. Thanks for the chance to win !
Hi Taylor,
I used to eat tootsie rolls when I was in school. I needed the sugar rush and they were perfect. Thanks!
Salt Water Taffy is usually bought when we are in A.C. or Newport R.I. or Cape Cod.. Then again the Cape has some amazing fudge makers also. White fudge is our Kryptonite.
I love the Greek series and own at least 2 of them. I’d love to be your ecstatic winner.
Hi Nora-Adrienne,
I buy taffy when I’m in Atlantic City. I didn’t know they sold it in Newport. We visit Newport every summer on our way to see family in Boston. I’ll have to buy some there, too. Thank you!
I’m not really a fan of salt water taffy. Lindt Lindor truffles are my favorite candy.
I haven’t had salt water taffy in years but adored it when I could get it. Loved that there were so many flavors and part of the fun of a beach visit was heading to the taffy store to choose different flavors of it to fill a bag to buy.
Hi GB,
It is fun to shop all the different types of flavors at the boardwalk candy store. Thank you for stopping by!
“Can I find the killer before this popular confection disappears from the boardwalk forever and the real killer costs free?”
That appears to be a typo. “costs free”
Love saltwater taffy! My favorite flavor is cinnamon! Can’t wait to read this next installment of this series!
Hi Lori,
Cinnamon is a great flavor. I also like banana and chocolate salt water taffy. Thanks for reading the series!
Salt water taffy isn’t for me. Thanks for the giveaway.
Hi Doward,
I know a lot of people don’t prefer it because it can stick to your teeth. Chocolate is on the top of my list too.
I like the fruit flavored taffy but dark chocolate candy is my favorite.
Hi Mary,
I admit that I have to have a piece of dark chocolate every day after lunch. It’s addictive!
I like taffy but I really like peanut butter cups!
I love salt water taffy, but my favorite candy is Reese’s cups. legallyblonde1961@yahoo.com
SWT is ok, but I love caramel.. nani_geplcs(at)yahoo(dot)com (I’d love a singed print copy of the first book in the Kebab Kitchen series, Hummus and Homicide!!!)
When I was growing up we always went to Santa Cruz, CA on vacation. We would buy taffy on the boardwalk. I liked the banana flavor!
Love love the Jersey shore and the lighthouses.
The saltwater taffy was BEST at Cape May.
This book sounds fabulously delicious.
What fun a going home, family restaurant,
Jersey shore, saltwater taffy…
I am reading it in my mind.
Another Brilliant interview – review
BLessings to you for success
Hi Kathy,
I love the Cape May lighthouse and climbed the steps this past summer for the magnificent view. Thank you!
I love salt water taffy. Splendid stuff. Cheers to the person(s) that invented it.
Thank you for the opportunity to win a copy of Hummus and Homicide.
We use to get salt water taffy from my late grandfather’s brother who is also not here would give to us as a gift when I was younger during the holidays.
Hi Karen,
What a nice gift to give to kids for the holidays! We always buy taffy and fudge for family when we visit the Jersey shore boardwalk every summer.
**** WINNER ****
Hummus and Homicide is Carolyn Connell Theriot
Congratulations!