That’s right. You heard it here first. I AM BACK! And this time my author actually listened to my complaints. And no, Connie Archer, I wasn’t whining. I had valid complaints. I mean, do you blame me?
Look at my life! It’s just not fair. Everybody at the By the Spoonful Soup Shop knows I have . . . had . . . a very bad crush on Sage DuBois, the chef at the Spoonful. I mean, who wouldn’t? He’s handsome, he’s sweet, he has gorgeous eyes and of course, he’s taken. Just my luck! But frankly, I thought my author wrote way too much about my blushing and taking off my glasses when Sage was around. Really! Did she have to describe my embarrassment so well?
And now that Janie, the other waitress at the restaurant, went off to nursing school after A Roux of Revenge, I have to do all the work myself. Well Lucky and Sage are always there, and Jack. And Sophie helps out sometimes. But one waitress for all our customers is just not enough. I’ve told Lucky I need help and I’ve warned her. I’m not gonna put up with it anymore. Sigh. I know she’s tried to hire someone but she hasn’t had any luck. I’m not gonna let her off the hook though. She needs to try harder.
I can’t wait till you read A Clue in the Stew. Thanks to a wonderful woman named Elise Varey who gave me a name, I finally have a last name! It’s ‘Findly’ and I like it. I think it suits me. Did my author come up with a last name for me???? Noooooo she didn’t! It was a complete stranger. You can see why I’m so cranky and disgruntled.
And this time, in A Clue in the Stew, they all thought they were gonna ignore me, sideline me, treat me as if I’m not important, just because I’m a waitress. But I’m gonna show them. When that famous mystery writer comes to town, I’ll be the only one who’s actually read her book. I have more knowledge in my pinky finger about solving murders than the whole bunch of them.
I spotted them through the window of the Spoonful one night. There they were, chatting and plotting and not even thinking about inviting me in to solve the crime. Just wait till April 5th! I’ll have a very nice role to play in A Clue in the Stew.
And now I suppose I’ll have to forgive my negligent author. Hmph! We’ll see . . .
A Clue in the Stew is the fifth book in the Soup Lover’s mystery series, published by Berkley Prime Crime, April 2016.
Soup shop owner Lucky Jamieson stirs up more trouble in the latest mystery from the national bestselling author of Ladle to the Grave. . .
When Lucky Jamieson opens up By the Spoonful to host an event with a famous author, she’s not expecting a bunch of nuts to descend on her small-town soup shop. But the author’s exasperating entourage—from a prickly publicist to a snippy son and his tipsy wife—give fresh meaning to the phrase, too many cooks spoil the broth.
The evening is more than spoiled, however, when it ends with a homicide. When the manner of the murder—as well as another recent unsolved crime—echoes the author’s fiction, Police Chief Nate Edgerton realizes he has a copycat killer on his hands. And Lucky hopes that one of her regular customers who has mysteriously gone missing isn’t involved. Once again, the soup shop owner will need to stir up some clues to find her friend and catch a cunning killer—before things really take a tureen for the worse. . .
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About the author
Connie Archer is the national bestselling author of the Soup Lover’s Mystery series from Berkley Prime Crime. A Clue in the Stew is the fifth book in the series. You can find her excerpts and recipes in both The Cozy Cookbook and The Mystery Writers of America Cookbook. Visit Connie at conniearchermysteries.com, on @SnowflakeVT and on Facebook.
Writing as Connie di Marco she is also the author of the upcoming Zodiac Mystery series from Midnight Ink featuring San Francisco astrologer, Julia Bonatti. The Madness of Mercury, first in the series, will be released on June 8, 2016. She is a member of Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers and Sisters in Crime. You can visit her at her website: www.conniedimarco.com, or Facebook.com and Twitter: @askzodia.
Giveaway: Leave comment below for your chance to win a print copy of A Clue in the Stew. US entries only, please. The giveaway will end April 20, 2016 at 12 AM EST. Good luck everyone!
All comments are welcomed.
Sounds wonderful! Would love to give a copy a happy home! Thanks for the opportunity!
Hi Barbara – Catching up from the west coast! I hope you get to visit the village soon. Good luck!
Lol sounds like a fun read..
Oh it is, Rosemary. That’s if you don’t mind the murders! Best of luck!
Oh man, I can’t wait to read this next installment….sounds awesome!! Thank you!!
Hi Vanessa – thanks for stopping by today, I hope you get back to Snowflake very soon! Best of luck!
A very enjoyable series. Can’t wait to read this one. Thanks for the chance to win.
Hi Doward – Great to see you here! Good luck today, and thanks for all those recommendations on GR too!
Wow I am behind on this series. Thanks for the chance
Lots has been happening in Snowflake lately. I wouldn’t want you to miss anything! Best of luck!
I have enjoyed the Soup mysteries series a great deal. Can’t wait to read this newest one.
Thanks so much, Dianne. That’s so great to hear! I hope you enjoy the latest adventure in Snowflake soon! Good luck!
Connie Archer’s books are always an interest catching page turning experience. Thanks for including her newest one on your blog. robeader53@yahoo.com
Hi Robin- thanks for visiting with Dru and me and Meg today! Best of luck!
One of my favorite reasons for loving dru’s blog is how the authors sometimes give voice to the more little known characters! Looking forward to the new book!
Hi Julia – I had no choice but to let Meg speak. As you can see, she’s already mad at me! She’d never forgive me if I didn’t let her speak out today! Best of luck!
I love this series. there’s nothing better than a mystery and food, even the kind you read about.
Thank you! I’m so glad you’ve enjoyed the adventures and crimes and soups in Snowflake! Best of luck!
I love a good beef stew, this sounds like a good book to read while making and eating some.
wfnren at aol dot com
Hi Wendy – you know, it’s funny, I had a craving for beef stew the other day too. I made a big pot of it, it just seemed the right thing to do now that Clue is out in the world. Good luck today!
Love, love this series!
Oh thank you, Linda!!! Wishing you lots of luck, and I hope you come back to the village soon!
Sounds like a great read.
Hi Rita, I hope you get to read A Clue in the Stew soon. Best of luck today!
This one is available through my library, so I’m not in, but am looking forward to reading it.
Wow! I”m impressed. So soon! You must have a great librarian. I really hope you enjoy this next Snowflake adventure. Happy reading!
I have to stop following Dru. My TBR list is overwhelmed. But I love always finding another pearl like this one.
Hi Connie, I’m in the same boat! Can’t stop reading and must write! Best of luck and I hope you return to the village soon!
This would be a great book to add to my cozy challenge list. Thanks for a chance to win a copy.
Hi Elaine, glad you could visit today. Good luck with you cozy challenge list!
Wonderful setting and lovely cozy. Thanks.
Hi Elaina, thanks for visiting today and best of luck!
A marvelous series
Oh thank you, Libby! Hope you can return to the village soon! Good,luck!
Great Post!!!
Hi Lori ~ Great to “see” you here!
Sounds like a good series and read
Hi Betty ~ I hope you get to meet everyone in the village soon! Best of luck!
I want to see what role Meg plays in this new book. Thanks for the giveaway.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
Hi Sue ~ Meg gets to have a lot of fun and scary moments too! Good luck!
Thanks for holding this giveaway! California (with me) would be a nice home for this book!
But what about the blizzards, Linda? Well, I guess Mammoth or Big Bear gets snow and maybe they even have a soup shop too! Best of luck!
How fun! This is a new series to me and I would love to win a copy.
Thanks for the great giveaway! This is a new series to me and I would love to win a copy.
Best of luck, Wendy ~ I hope you get to meet everyone in Snowflake, VT!
I borrowed a copy from the library but would love to have my own copy.
Hi Sandy ~ Good luck! I hope you liked the mystery!
Have added this to my TBR list. Can’t wait to read it!
Hi Becky ~ Thanks for stopping by. I hope you enjoy the latest adventure in Snowflake!
Can’t wait to read your story Meg! Glad i was able to give you a last name.
Hi Elisa ~ Thanks to you! Meg is so happy with her last name! Good luck!
I thought this blog post was so funny; it made my day. I have read two of the books in this series so far and I loved them/. And I would be THRILLED AND DELIGHTED to become the recipient of A Clue in the Stew. I really enjoy mysteries that have food and restaurants featured and also those that are set in New England with Vermont being one of my favorites. I will get the other two books ordered and read soon so I will be up to date when I read this 5th in the series. Thank you for the chance to win book 5 in this very enjoyable Vermont based series, Dru Ann.
Thank you,
Cynthia
Thanks so much, Cynthia! How nice of you to write and I’m so glad you want to keep up with the stories in Snowflake! Best of luck!
Ènjoyed your book thoroughly and can’t wait for the next one.
Hoowee! This sounds wonderful. I want it.
LOL! Hi Amy ~ Thanks for joining in! Best of luck!
why does it seem that all the books that you post one here just happen to be the exact types that I love to read..?? lol thanks for this chance..
Hi Rosemary ~ I think Dru plans it that way! She’s the best! Good luck today!
I have added this book and series to my TBR list. I hope I win.
Hi Vicki ~ Best of luck, and thanks for entering today!
Connie Archer is a “new-to-me” author … thank you for introducing me to her books. The Soup Lover’s Mystery series sounds great. I’m adding it to my Wish/TBR Lists. Thank you for the chance to win a print copy of A Clue in the Stew.
Hi Peggy ~ I’m glad you found me! And I hope you get to enjoy all the stories in Snowflake soon!
Really enjoy this series. There is always time for soup. I can’t wait to visit Snowflake VT.
Hi Dianne ~ Welcome back to Snowflake, VT! Clue has some good recipes too!
Sounds like a stirring mystery! I love these type of series that follow a character. Lucky sounds like she has lots of characters on her hands. Looking forward to reading this one.
Hi Donna ~ There are some interesting happenings in the village in this book! I hope you get to meet all the characters soon. Good luck!
This sounds like a fun read with quirky characters. Definitely adding Connie to my list of TBR authors
Hi Susan – thank you! I think you’d enjoy all the mysteries and murders in Snowflake! Good luck today!
I love this series.
Hi Annette – great to see you here and thanks for visiting. Best of luck in the giveaway!
I’m a lover of soup year round. Would love to put this book on my TBR pile. Thanks to you and Dru for the chance
Me too, Ruth! I do live on soup! I hope you get to read about the latest adventure in the village soon. Good luck!
I have now yet read any of these books, but I already love Meg!
Meg really comes to center stage in this book. She’s there in all the books, but this is her special star turn in Clue! She’s really turned out to be a great character! Lots of luck in the giveaway!
Great series! Looking forward to catching up on the series. Thanks for the chance to win a copy.
Hi Patty – Thanks for joining in and good luck!
love this series….anxiously awaiting this title 😉
Hi Johnna ~ Thank you! Very best of luck!
Dear Dru Ann ~ Thanks for hosting me! This has been a wonderful stop!
Sounds like a good one.
This sounds like such a fun book. I hope I win!
Digicats {at} Sbcglobal {dot} Net
I love this series. I have all of the previous ones!
A favorite series……
Thank you for the giveaway…..
I have three of the books in the series.