Reviews from JULIE HENTHORN

JANUARY - FEBRUARY  REVIEWS

KILLER MOUSSE
MELINDA WELLS
Berkley Prime Crime PBO 2/08

Melinda Wells has created a winning character in her new mystery series.  Della Carmichael is the owner of a cooking school in Santa Monica , California , and as the book, KILLER MOUSSE, opens is debuting her new cooking show, “In the Kitchen with Della,” on the Better Living Channel.  She needs the show to be successful as she is a better cook than businesswoman and has gotten herself into some debt. Unfortunately, Mimi Bond is also there with the intent of spoiling the show.  Della has replaced Mimi as the cooking show host and Mimi is not very happy about it. When she volunteers to taste test the dessert, named Killer Mousse, Della puts on a happy face and pretends to be delighted.  Moment later, when Mimi drops dead at her feet after trying the mousse, Della is worried not only about the future of her show but also her own as she becomes the prime suspect in the murder.  Then another host is murdered.  Will Della figure out who is killing the hosts or become the next victim?  John O'Hara, a cop and her late husband's partner, is there to help.  His daughter, Eileen, lives with Della and the story of the two family’s relationship over the years unfolds throughout the book.  The setting at the Better Living Channel allows the author to people the story with television executives, producers, show hosts and assorted support staff.  Della's best friend Liddy provides friendship and help and crime reporter Nicholas D'Martino (NDM) provides the romantic interest.  Even her standard poodle, Tuffy, and the cat, Emma, help with crime solving.  Recipes are included - yummy!  Also, as I live in LA,  I recognized many of the locations she used in the story and that was a fun aspect as well.  I look forward to the next installment of Della's adventures.

- Julie Henthorn

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NOVEMBER - DECEMBER  REVIEWS

PREACHING TO THE CORPSE
ROBERTA ISLEIB
Berkley Prime Crime PBO 12/07

In DEADLY ADVICE: An Advice Column Mystery, the first book in this series, we are introduced to Dr Rebecca Butterman, a clinical psychologist, who is writing an advice column on the side. The advice columns appear in the book just as recipes do in culinary mystery series. Recently divorced, the column provides not only extra income but the ability to give advice anonymously - she should be so lucky in her real life. People are always asking or expecting her advice/opinion.  In PREACHING TO THE CORPSE, the second book in the series, Rebecca is awakened out of a sound sleep by a phone call from Detective Meigs.  Rebecca and the detective met in the first book when her next door neighbor was found dead.  There is a spark between them - complicated by his marriage and her ex-marriage. Wesley Sandifer, minister of Shoreline Congregational Church, is in the emergency room following the death of Lacy Bailes, head of the search committee for a new assistant minister.  He is a suspect and will only talk to Rebecca because he values her advice and input.  His main concern is for the search committee and their forward progress and he wants her to take over Lacy's job.  Who ever knew that attending church could be so deadly?  Rebecca agrees to help the Reverend and as her cold gets worse so does the mystery surrounding Lacy's death.   Her friends, Annabelle and Angie, form a good support system to help counteract the nosy and occasionally eccentric group of neighbors who live in the condo complex where Rebecca resides.  The parishioners who make up the search committee complicate matters as well.  Throw in her ex husband Mark, sister Janice and niece Brittany, and the fact that it is the Christmas season, and all the makings are here for a mysterious, page turning holiday treat.  I look forward to reading more of Dr Butterman's advice adventures.  Happy Holidays!

 - Julie Henthorn