Fatal Reservations

Author: Lucy Burdette
Genre: Light Mystery
Type: e-book
Source: NetGalley
Series: #6 in the Key West Food Critic mystery series
Publisher: Penguin Group Berkeley
First Published: Juky 7, 2015
First Line: "The first time Miss Gloria almost died, she came out of the hospital rigid with fear."

Book Description from GoodReads: Hayley Snow looks forward to reviewing For Goodness Sake, a new floating restaurant that promises a fresh take on Japanese delicacies like flambéed grouper with locally sourced seaweed. But nearby land-based restaurateurs would rather see their buoyant competition sink.

Sent to a City Commission meeting to cover the controversy, Hayley witnesses another uproar. The quirky performers of the daily Sunset Celebration are struggling to hold onto their performance space. The fight for Mallory Square has renewed old rivalries between Hayley’s Tarot-card reading friend Lorenzo and a flaming-fork-juggling nemesis, Bart Frontgate—but things take a deadly turn when Bart is found murdered.

If Lorenzo could read his own cards, he might draw The Hanged Man. He can only hope that Hayley draws Justice as she tries to clear him of murder…

My Review:  This is the sixth installment of the Key West Food Critic series and once again Hayley finds a mystery to solve.  This time she aims to clear the name of her friend Lorenzo from a murder charge.  Also in tow are the gaggle of quirky characters - with Miss Gloria, Hayley's octogenarian house mate being one of my favourites in the series.

I have to admit that this book wasn't my favourite in the series.  It was still an easy to read cozy mystery but there seemed to be a little less suspense. Hayley also occasionally made foolhardy decisions which didn't endear her to me.

Delicious descriptions of food, of course, are a mainstay in this series.  Readers will enjoy the chance to whip up some of the dishes from the recipes at the back of the book.

My Rating: 3/5 stars

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to NetGalley, Penguin Group Berkeley and Lucy Burdette for providing me with a complimentary e-book copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.