Grilling the Subject (Cookbook Nook Mystery #5) by Daryl Wood Gerber

Have you ever talked with old friend and realized you had been talking for hours? Time seems to fly by effortlessly in good company. That was how I felt when I realized we were up to part five in the Cookbook Nook series. Grilling the Subject (Cookbook Nook Mystery #5) by Daryl Wood Gerber is just as much fun as book one!

From the back of the book:

Things heat up for bookstore owner Jenna Hart in the latest Cookbook Nook mystery from the Agatha Award-winning author of Fudging the Books.

As the Wild West Extravaganza rides into Crystal Cove, California, Cookbook Nook store owner Jenna Hart is ready to indulge her appetite for grilled and barbecued treats and maybe even try the Texas skip. But when the body of one of her father’s neighbors is found the next morning smoldering in a bonfire, the rodeo revelry is extinguished.

Sylvia Gump had acquired plenty of enemies with her practice of illegally encroaching on her neighbors’ properties—including Jenna’s dad, who was off fishing by himself and has no alibi for the murder. Now it’s up to Cary Hart’s dutiful daughter to clear his name before the real killer turns up the heat and rakes someone else over the coals.

My thoughts:

I didn't start this series at the first part and you don't have to either. These are standalone mysteries, even tough there are tie ins and things that will mean more if you start at the start. I went back and read them all, as I imagine you will too. I loved the charming, easy to imagine setting and every single character. As you might guess, I adored the cat, Tigger. I probably said that last time too. 

The mystery had plenty of suspects and twists. I didn't figure it out, but I did flip pages quickly as the tension ratcheted up. I have to admit this was a one night read for me. I was grabbed from page one and enthralled right up until the last word. After the last word... recipes. Delicious recipes from the foods that tempted me throughout the story. You will want to dive into this series.

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Disclosure: I may receive products in exchange for an honest review. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I personally believe will be good for my readers.