The phone waking me this morning was bad enough, but hearing my twin sister say, “Bill’s dead and, uh, I’m afraid the police think I killed him,” was worse.
Why? Because Emily is the perfect cheerleader type who never deviates from the straight and narrow, while the only Bill we both know is my ex-husband.
My name is Sarah Blair and that’s how my day began – so peacefully asleep with RahRah, my Siamese cat, curled against the back of my knees, that it took me a moment to understand my ex-husband was dead and one of my sister’s rhubarb crisps was the alleged culprit.
In case I didn’t mention it, Emily is a gourmet chef. Her rhubarb crisps are to die for, but not literally. She sets goals and accomplishes them. Me? I married at eighteen and here I am divorced at twenty-eight, having, thanks to Bill and his bimbo, swapped our luxury lifestyle for a cramped studio apartment and a law firm receptionist job. Other than some clumsy domestic skills, the only thing I came out of our marriage with was RahRah.
I knew starting over would be messy, but the idea of me straightening everything out today is ridiculous. That’s why I called my lawyer boss, Harlan Endicott, and asked him to meet me at the police station. Harlan is a saint and I don’t say that because he was the only one who offered me a job. Let’s be honest, how many other lawyers would come down to the police station in the middle of the night without asking for a fee?
Anyway, once Harlan and I met at the station, we ended up cooling our heels for almost an hour while the Wheaton police chief, who Emily and I have known since high school, talked to her. Harlan and I barely got in to see Emily before Bill’s bimbo, Jane Clark, crashed the scene. Jane calling me a cat thief was a treat I could gladly have done without, but at least Harlan finally sprung Emily from jail, for now.
The upshot of today is not only do I have to convince the police that my ex wasn’t poisoned by Emily’s award-winning rhubarb crisp, I also need to confirm that possession is ninety-nine per cent of the law because the woman who broke up my marriage wants RahRah. What’s even more frightening is that I’m a cook of convenience, but if I don’t figure out the right recipe to crack the case before Emily is supposed to compete in a food competition, I might have to take her place. Unfortunately, for a gal whose idea of good china is floral paper plates, trying to catch the real killer, do my job, and protect RahRah, while living to tell about it, could mean facing a fate worse than death—being in the kitchen!
Giveaway: I’m so in love with RahRah that he’s featured on the cover of One Taste Too Many. Tell me about your pet to win a print copy. U.S. entries only, please. The giveaway ends December 20, 2018. Good luck everyone!
You can read more about Sarah in One Taste Too Many, the first book in the NEW “Sarah Blair” mystery series.
For culinary challenged Sarah Blair, there’s only one thing scarier than cooking from scratch—murder!
Married at eighteen, divorced at twenty‑eight, Sarah Blair reluctantly swaps her luxury lifestyle for a cramped studio apartment and a law firm receptionist job in the tired hometown she never left. With nothing much to show for the last decade but her feisty Siamese cat, RahRah, and some clumsy domestic skills, she’s the polar opposite of her bubbly twin, Emily—an ambitious chef determined to take her culinary ambitions to the top at a local gourmet restaurant . . .
Sarah knew starting over would be messy. But things fall apart completely when her ex drops dead, seemingly poisoned by Emily’s award-winning rhubarb crisp. Now, with RahRah wanted by the woman who broke up her marriage and Emily wanted by the police for murder, Sarah needs to figure out the right recipe to crack the case before time runs out. Unfortunately, for a gal whose idea of good china is floral paper plates, catching the real killer and living to tell about it could mean facing a fate worse than death—being in the kitchen!
Includes quick and easy recipes!
Purchase Link
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About the author
Judge Debra H. Goldstein is the author of Kensington’s new Sarah Blair cozy mystery series. Its first book, One Taste Too Many, debuts in January 2019, but is available for pre-order. She also wrote Should Have Played Poker and 2012 IPPY Award winning Maze in Blue. Her short stories, including Anthony and Agatha nominated “The Night They Burned Ms. Dixie’s Place,” have appeared in numerous periodicals and anthologies including Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, Black Cat Mystery Magazine, and Mystery Weekly. Debra is president of Sisters in Crime’s Guppy Chapter, serves on SinC’s national board, and is vice-president of the Southeast Chapter of Mystery Writers of America.
Find out more about her writings at debrahgoldstein.com, on Facebook at DebraHGoldsteinAuthor , or on Twitter at @DebraHGoldstein. One Taste Too Many is available in print and e-book.
All comments are welcomed.
Congratulations on the release. No need to enter this cat lover in the giveaway as I’ve already read an advance copy.
Sharon… thank you for your congrats and for reading and loving (5 starring) and early review copy. Much appreciated.
Awww….I absolutely adore your sweet Rah Rah on the cover….so cute! And you are a new author to me, and from the adorable cover, I can’t wait to read this awesome new cozy! I have three precious kitties! My big black kitty Cosmo is 13 years old, my sweet tan colored kitty Dusty is 11 years old, and my newest addition is my sweet orange kitty named Rupert who is four years old! They are all such wonderful, loving kitties! Thank you so very much for the chance to win your new book! God bless you Debra and dearest Dru Ann too! 😻
Good luck with the drawing..l thank you for stopping by…wow, three cats – Sarah can barely handle one.
Go RahRah! This story sounds like a great opener.
Thank you… RahRah hopes you like getting to know him
I don’t currently have a pet, but many years ago, I had a cockatail named Pepper…she was a funny bird….she would squawk as I’m turning onto my block coming home…that’s how my Dad knew I was home….
Animals have sixth senses… Sounds like your Dad had tapped into Pepper’s special talents. Thanks for stopping by today.
I don’t have any pets now but growing up I had a poodle mix named Blacky
Sandy, I had a toy poodle growing up….mine was silver….memories…Thank you for leaving a message today.
RahRah is gorgeous! I have a Chiweenie named Mojo. He is 8 and he is a rescue. He is my buddy! I adore him! He loves burying in his blankets, getting his belly and ears rubbed. He loves going outside and exploring. This is his first Christmas with me and he has his little stocking, waiting for Santa Paws to put goodies in it!
Thank you for giving away a copy of your book.
Debbie,
Thank you for stopping by. I hope you take plenty of pictures of Mojo’s first Christmas. Today is special because RahRah is special *but tune in for the second book in the series in October … Mojo might have a new buddy in Fluffy
I can’t wait to read One Taste Too Many. I love cozies with pets. I have a black lab named Bandit. He is 7 years old, but still has the energy of a younger dog. A friend found him wandering around her neighborhood in the rain. She took him back to his owner’s house, and the owners didn’t want him back! My family and I adopted him. He is a sweetheart!
Sounds like a sweetheart. You know, RahRah was rescued, too … but from the hurricane’s storm waters.
We have 5 cats and they definitely rule the house lol.
in One Taste Too Many, one cat is enough to rule the house.. I can’t imagine five. Do they fight or is there an alpha cat?
Rah Rah, what an enchanting name for the beauty on the cover. My eyes are always drawn to cats and because of this I was sold on this book. Thanks Dru Ann for your review.
Robin,
Thank you for dropping by, loving the look of RahRah, and being interested in reading One Taste Too Many.
We currently have three cats – a black cat named Eartha Kitt’n, and two tabbies, a brother and sister named Maurice and Monique. They are wonderful additions to our household, and the tabbies love to have their bellies rubbed. Congratulations on your new series. Sarah sounds like someone I will enjoy getting to know.
Thank you for your congratulatory message. Your cats sound adorable… and I bet they get plenty of belly rubbings
RahRah is such a good looking cat.
I’m a big cat fan.
RahRah is based upon a friend’s cat, who was beautiful. Kensington did an excellent job translating my thoughts into the cover.
I have four dogs and they love to walk. They know when my husband comes from work they know they might go walking with him. If he isn’t too tired he will take them walking. HE takes the parents first and take the boys the children last. It calms them for the rest of the day.
Karen,
I have a friend who had two beautiful dogs that she showed and bred, but when the puppies came, her family decided they could only give two away. For the past twenty years, she walked six dogs, but had to do them in shifts – parents and maybe one dog, two to three of the off spring, and if there was time, she’d do it only two at a time — the problem was a number of the dogs had to be kept separate as they all wanted to be alpha. Beautiful pets, but lots of exercise.
I have five cats, three Maine Coons, (Hercules, Felix and Dram), a Persian, (Bramble) and a part-Siamese (Silver). Of the five, Silver is the smallest but the feistiest–they big boys give her a wide berth when she walks by, and they don’t eat until she’s done.
Rochelle,
Love your description of Silver… she reminds me of RahRah.
i currently have 3 little dogs who are all rescued, named Peanut(pomerian), Teensie and Tootsie(both are chiweenies)and 1 black rescue cat named little bit. They all rule my roost 😉
Johnna,
Pets and children have a tendency to rule the roost. Don’t you think?
Hi Debra! How did you come up with the name Rah Rah? We have 2 dogs: a diva Miniature Australian Shepherd and the sweetest rescue dog I’ve ever met, named Jake. They are great friends and love to play together. One Taste Too Many sounds like a great book, and I appreciate your giving away a copy and sharing a day in Sarah’s life with us!
Celia,
Thank you for stopping by. In the first draft, I wrote that RahRah was going to be named for the hurricane, but when it was discovered he was a boy, Mother Blair was going to call him by initials. Realizing the initials might be misinterpreted, I opted to name him for something that comes to mind when I think about New Orleans and its parades. Hence, RahRah stuck in my mind and became his name.
No pets for me at this time. Thanks for the giveaway. It looks like a great read.
Thank you for stopping by…hope, if you get a chance to read One Taste Too Many, you enjoy it.
My sweet girl is a 10 year old black & white cat.
Sounds like a winner of a cat…..thanks for stopping by
I currently live with 2 cats. Both are rescues!
Linda,
Thanks for stopping by … and for helping rescue 2 !!
RahRah is a beautiful cat and deserves to be on the cover of your book. I have two handsome cats, Hamilton and Jefferson, and they brighten my day, every day. Life would be so boring without them.
Dianne,
I’m glad your cats bring such joy into your life (also love the historic references….. was that a period of time you enjoyed studying or what motivated your name choices?)….. The model for RahRah brightened my friend’s life so much I had to have him play a significant role in Sarah Blair’s life.
Sadly, I lost my long hair calico last month. She was a delight and chose me as her mom, as she was a stray. I do love cats and will soon have a new one, when I am ready. This sounds like a great new series and I can’t wait to try it! Thanks for the chance!
I’m sorry about your loss, but glad she lives on in your memory. The cat on the cover is modeled after one my friend owned and who also passed away —-she loves that when she sees the cover it makes her think of her cat. I hope reading about RahRah helps you remember some of the fun things about your calico.
I do not have a pet at the moment, but I catsit my sister’s two rescue black cats, a brother and sister duo.
Catsitting, like babysitting, is nice… you can play with the two, but give them back for the little things like litter box cleaning (unless they come with the new automatic one).
New author and series for me, and I love Rah Rah. I actually have 3 cats, two who live in my house in Portland, Oreo, who adopted my roommate as her human, and Bo who is very close to divorcing me. My third kitty lives in Pendleton where I stay taking care of my mother, her name is Kendyl.
Kaye,
Glad you like RahRah… hope you give this new author and series a chance to make RahRah a fourth cat for you 🙂
I have this black cat – Teddy – his full name is Theodore Guilbert [pronounced gee-bear] Frederich Burton [after Sir Richard Burton the Explorer] Bushytail F [our last name]. When he was about 3 weeks old he got into the heater duct of our old house and for a week he ran up and down the duct between the living room and the kitchen.
I kept complaining to my husband that I was hearing strange noises in the heater duct and he kept trying to reassure me that what I was hearing was the heater turning on and the heat rushing through the duct.
One night around 10 pm the noise happened again, and stopped at the duct in the kitchen. So I lifted off the cover and there was this small black cat, though by then he was almost larger than the duct and had difficulty turning around. Because of that I was able to grab him and pull him out. Then I walked to the bedroom, woke my husband up and said ‘Here is the noise I’ve been hearing in the duct for a week.’
Needless to say, I slept on the couch all night, with the kitten stuffed in my vest to keep him warm. That was over 16 years ago, and he is still a joy.
Love you Teddy Thumper [he had to have more than half his tail chopped off 3 years ago because of a large tumour that literally went all the way around his tail].
Annie,
What a great story about how a cat came to have a home and be loved. Sounds like he is very special. Love the names… we’ve had dogs in the past and I tend to give them very long formal names and then call them a nickname that has five or so letters.
A fawn colored boxer named Mia pretty well runs our household. She only has to stand by the counter where her treat bag is stored and incline her head slightly for one of her humans to quickly fetch a treat for her! She is also a favorite in the neighborhood, and everyone wants to pet her when my husband takes her for her daily walk.
Mia sounds like a winner who has her humans well trained.
Sounds like a delightful read. Best of luck, Debra.
Sandra,
Thank you for stopping by…. and for your kind words.
I have a hyper black lab named Briella
She is my sons dog
Thanks for the chance
🎄🍯🐝🎄
Shared on Twitter 😍❤😍
https://mobile.twitter.com/LindaMoffitt02/status/1075953532442947584
Happy Holidays…may your hyper lab be calm.
**** WINNER ****
One Taste Too Many is Christi King
Congratulations!
Christi, Congrats! Please pm via Facebook or email DHG@DebraHGoldstein.com your address so I can mail you a copy of One Taste Too Many or let me know if you prefer an e-book version. Debra
CONGRATULATIONS Christi King on winning! 😊💜