A New Cozy Mystery Series

There's a new cozy mystery series in town, an event that always makes A Reader's Respite smile.  Cozy mysteries always seem to be the perfect read in these dreary winter months.  Stuck in bed with the flu?  A cozy mystery fits the bill nicely....short reads, nothing too deep or philosophical to tax a Sudafed-laden brain.

The new Daphne Martin Mystery series by author Gayle Trent is a particular treat (pun intended) for those readers who also love to bake.  Wholesome (nary a bedroom scene to be found) and light-hearted, these short mysteries eschew deep character analysis, instead focusing on a protagonist we can relate.

Daphne Martin, a newly divorced cake decorator who has moved back to her home town of Brea Ridge, Virginia to start life over close to her family, stumbling inadvertently into local mysteries and baking up a storm amid a cast of fun, eccentric secondary characters.

The mysteries aren't too convoluted, but neither are they simplistic.  Daphne's baking techniques are detailed throughout which, if you enjoy cake baking and decorating, is a fun little addition.  If baking cakes isn't your cup of tea, beware that these details might prove a tad distracting to the story.  As a bonus, the recipes Daphne uses throughout each story are served up at the end of the book - a delightful addition!

A Reader's Respite wishes we were this talented....alas, not likely to happen

There's really no need to read these in order (and given A Reader's Respite's infamous Series OCD, that's an astounding statement, but it's true, we assure you).  The author does a fine job in the second novel, Dead Pan, of bringing the reader up-to-date without making you feel like you are missing something very important, which is no mean feat in the world of serial novels.

So if you are looking for a cozy mystery that doesn't take literature too seriously, keep an eye out for Gayle Trent.  Her books are a small pleasure, perfect to read in between your Hemingway and Dickens.


FTC, USDA, DoD, TSA, Whatever Disclosure:

The first book in Gayle Trent's Daphne Martin Cake Decorating Series, Murder Takes the Cake, zapped it's way to our Amazonian Devil Device (ie, Kindle) via a mess of convoluted radio waves.  Call it technological trickery if you will.  It didn't cost us a red cent because Amazon was offering the download for free that day.  We weren't cheap, just lucky.

The second book of the series, Dead Pan, winged it's way to our doorstep in the form of a bound galley for review from the author.  This didn't cost us a red cent, either.  Get over it.

*****

Murder Takes the Cake was published in Fall 2008, so it is readily available in paperback.  Strangely, a couple of weeks ago, Amazon was also offering the book via Kindle for a free download, but now it seems to have disappeared from Amazon's Kindle Store entirely.  *Sigh*  Another Amazonian mystery (maybe Gayle Trent should tackle that mystery for her next book).

Dead Pan was released this past October in paperback and is also currently available for Kindle download.

*****

If anyone's interested in a galley of the Dead Pan, the second book in the series, leave a comment here.  We'll draw a random winner on January 30th and mail you our review copy!

Review: The School of Essential Ingredients

The School of Essential Ingredients, by Erica Bauermeister




The Down and Dirty

Renowned chef Lillian owns a restaurant in the Pacific Northwest and every Monday night she hosts a cooking class.

Yep, that's pretty much it. Sounds too simple, right?


The Literary Criticism

A Reader's Respite doesn't cook. Unless you count boxed macaroni-n-cheese (Kraft brand only) or frozen corndogs. Food holds no particular appeal for us aside from assuaging whatever current craving is present (brownies, anyone?).

Likewise, food-related novels have traditionally held little interest around here.

But that all changed the day Erica Bauermeister's debut novel, The School of Essential Ingredients, arrived in the mail.

Breakfast at A Reader's Respite before The School of Essential Ingredients

Slated for release today, this novel is, above all else, a beautifully written character study of each student in Lillian's class. Each character is given their own chapter and their diversity is bound to strike a chord in readers from all walks of life.

Bibliophiles everywhere will see themselves in Lillian's mother, a woman who used books to escape the harsh realities of life.

Mothers will be drawn to Claire, a young woman who gave up her identity to be a wife and mother.

Young adults seeking to find direction in this world will be drawn to Chloe, who is still trying to create an identity.

And there are more; each character more compelling than the last. Each character finds that the simple act of creating meals illuminates many of life's problems and can sometimes even provide solutions.

Breakfast at A Reader's Respite after The School of Essential Ingredients

The story itself is not near as important as how it is told. There is a difference between writing and prose, and prose doesn't have to be difficult to read or enjoy. Bauermeister masterfully proves this again and again throughout the novel.

You find yourself revisiting passages not to understand some convoluted prose, but to savor and enjoy it.


You will want to eat this book.




Our Recommendation

Highly recommended. A brilliant first novel and if you've never read a food-related novel, this is where to start. You won't want the book to end....trust us on this one.




Title: The School of Essential Ingredients
Author: Erica Bauermeister
ISBN-13: 978-0399155437
256 pages
Publisher: Putnam Adult
Date: January 22, 2009


Other Opinions in Blogland:

Books and Cooks
Peeking Between the Pages
Julie's Jewels
Fyrefly's Book Blog
Leafing Through Life