Claws of Death by Cathy Wiley

Series Name: Fatal Food Festival Mystery Book #1
Genre: Cozy
Release: July 2023
Format: Print, Digital

Join Jackie Norwood, a down-and-out celebrity chef, as she judges the first gig on her comeback quest—a Texas Crab Festival cooking contest.

This new venture takes an unexpected twist when she discovers that her archnemesis, Heather Curtis, is her co-judge. As if that weren’t enough to stir the pot, one of the competitors is Chef Benjy Hayes, Jackie’s long-lost ex-boyfriend.

Disaster strikes as Heather takes a fatal taste of Benjy’s dish. Determined to clear Benjy’s name—and her own—Jackie relies on her wits and the unique skills of her friends and family. The kitchen timer is ticking as Jackie races to bring the killer to justice before her own goose is cooked.

Don’t miss the first installment of this cozy culinary mystery series, where a spicy blend of murder, rivalry, and second chances will have you salivating for the next serving. Get ready for “Claws of Death” and embark on a culinary adventure you won’t soon forget.

Purchase Link

Dru’s Short Musing:
The author did a great job in telling this whodunit that quickly became a page turner as I had to know who was doing what to whom.

The mystery was expertly defined with enough suspects to keep me guessing as to the motive. One suspect I didn’t think warranted for them being on the list, but it added to the suspense. The writing was crisp, and the tone was very comfortable making it easy to follow along with what the author intended. Boasting a wonderful cast of characters, engaging dialogue and visually descriptive narrative, this is a delightfully entertaining addition to the cozy genre, and I look forward to the next book, coming in November, for more adventures with Jackie and her friends.

FTC Full Disclosure – I received a digital copy of this book from the author.