Sunday Salon: Hickory Smoked Homicide by Riley Adams

  

It’s time again to get comfortable, make sure your cup of coffee is filled and discuss the books we’ve enjoyed this past week as another edition of Sunday Salon has arrived.

Today I have a cozy murder mystery to share that has deep Southern roots, yummy recipes, and a whodunit to keep you guessing.

HICKORY SMOKED HOMICIDE by Riley Adams

Beauty pageants, a popular event in the South, can be fun but cause hard feelings among competitors and judges alike.

Pageant coach Tristan Pembroke is at the top of the list of those judges disliked. She can’t even get along with her own daughter, Steffi.

Aunt Pat’s Barbecue Restaurant, located in the heart of Memphis, TN, is known for having the best barbecue around and a family-feel atmosphere. Lulu Taylor, owner of Aunt Pat’s, can’t help but step in to help when she sees someone in trouble. She hires Steffi as a waitress and gives her a place to stay when Tristan kicks her out. 

Later Lulu; her daughter-in-law, Sara; her friend, Cherry Hayes; and Steffi attend an auction at Tristan’s. Unfortunately Sara and Tristan argue over a portrait Sara had done of Tristan. When Lulu goes searching for Sara, she founds Tristan instead and she’s dead.

Finding dead bodies seems to becoming a habit for Lulu. Before she gets deep fried for murder, Lulu teams up with Cherry to find the killer. The more they search, the more suspects they uncover. Can they find the real killer before it’s too late?

Author Riley Adams demonstrates Southern culture through the actions and voices of her core cast of characters. She makes her characters lovable, but realistic with flaws and problems - not counting the murder.

Each new installment in the Memphis BBQ Mystery series draws readers into the world of the Taylors and their friends just a bit more. The characters continue to evolve as we get to know them better. The cast of supporting characters adds spice, flavor and just enough zaniness to have you laughing at times.

Despite Lulu’s uncanny ability to find murder and mayhem, HICKORY SMOKED HOMICIDE gives you a feeling of family and friendship, caring and concern, warmth, and hospitality. The delicious recipes included at the end are an added bonus.

Pick up HICKORY SMOKED HOMICIDE and step into the fascinating world of suspense, murder and intrigue topped with a big dollop of Southern virtues, lip-smacking recipes, and good wholesome fun.

HICKORY SMOKED HOMICIDE is the 3rd book in the Memphis BBQ Mystery series, but is a stand alone read. New fans just finding Lulu and Aunt Pat’s will want to check on Lulu’s earlier adventures in DELICIOUS AND SUSPICIOUS and FINGER LICKIN’ DEAD.

Riley Adams is the pseudonym of Elizabeth Spann Craig, who blogs daily at Mystery Writing Is Murder and on Wednesdays at Mystery Lovers' Kitchen. 

Hickory Smoked Homicide by Riley Adams, A Memphis BBQ Mystery, Berkley Prime Crime, @2011, ISBN: 9780425244609, Paperback,  288 pages

FTC Full Disclosure - This book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.

What was on your reading schedule this past week? Thanks so much for dropping by. 

Sunday Salon: Delicious and Suspicious by Riley Adams

Lip-smackin’ good barbecue to die for.

That could literally serve as the slogan for Aunt Pat’s Barbecue Restaurant. However, owner Lulu Taylor isn’t happy with the dying part, she just wants the patrons to love her barbecue in DELICIOUS AND SUSPICIOUS, a Memphis Barbecue Mystery series.

Aunt Pat’s, located in the heart of Memphis, TN, has the reputation for having the best barbecue around. This title brings Rebecca Adrian, a prominent Cooking Channel show scout, to town to have a taste. But Rebecca has a flare for rubbing everyone the wrong way.

Within a short period of time Rebecca insults or humiliates a number of Aunt Pat’s patrons and staff, including several members of Lulu’s immediate family. With tempers flaring hotter than the oven at Aunt Pat’s, Rebecca is found dead in her hotel room after being poisoned.

While regular customers would never imagine getting tainted food at Aunt Pat’s, suspicion is starting to grow and Lulu decides to take matters into her own hands. She’s determine to find the killer and get a clean bill of health for her restaurant.

As Lulu begins to investigate, the list of suspects also begins to grow. While she’s finding clues, you’re introduced to some unique and lovable characters that frequent the restaurant. Among these will be the Graces, a group of ladies as loyal to Aunt Pat’s as they are to Graceland where they volunteer. Each one of the Graces is a delight, a bit of a character, and most are suspects in the murder.

Lulu quickly learns everyone is hiding secrets including her nine-year-old twin granddaughters.

Another murder causes Lulu to turn up the heat in her investigation after she’s knocked out by the killer minutes after finding the second body. Lulu may not be a spring chicken anymore, but she’s not about to let the killer cook her goose.

While trying to find the killer, Lulu also has time to interfere in her youngest son’s life, help play matchmaker with a couple of restaurant patrons, and go on an overnight outing with the Graces where they get stranded in the middle of a lake.

Author Riley Adams puts together a great mixture of eclectic characters, a wonderful sense of Southern culture, and a strong murder mystery. She sprinkles in the right amount of humor to flavor the story. But the icing on the cake is the twists the storyline takes at the end. Just when you think you know who the killer is, she adds a dash of surprise causing you to shake your head in disbelief and awe.

By the time you finish DELICIOUS AND SUSPICIOUS your mouth will be watering for the savory dishes mentioned throughout the story. For an added treat, a number of the recipes are included in the back of this cozy murder mystery book. Among the recipes is Pulled Pork Barbeque and Sauce, and Aunt’ Pat’s Spicy Corn Muffins.

DELICIOUS AND SUSPICIOUS is author Riley Adam’s first book in the Memphis Barbecue Mystery series. Can’t wait to see what Lulu’s cooking up next. This saucy amateur sleuth will have you coming back wanting more.

Riley Adams is the pseudonym of Elizabeth Spann Craig, who blogs daily at Mystery Writing Is Murder and blogs on Thursdays at Mystery Lovers Kitchen. DELICIOUS AND SUSPICIOUS is scheduled to be released July 6, but can be pre-order now.

Delicious and Suspicious by Riley Adams, Berkley Prime Crime, @2010, ISBN: 978-0-425-23553-9, Paperback, 288 pages

FTC Full Disclosure - This book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.

Soooooo Tired

What do you do when your get-up-and-go has got up and went?

I've heard this phrase all of my life. When I was younger, I thought it was just a funny saying that my grandparents said. Since I've gotten older, I now know what the saying really means. There are days when you really just don't have any energy. 
  
Yesterday was one of those days for me. We had a nice little thunderstorm yesterday afternoon that lasted for about four hours and that caused me to be really late getting home. It's so much fun trying to load groceries into the car while the rain is pouring down and the wind is blowing every which way. :) 

After I got home and finished with supper, I realized I didn't have a post for today. That's also when I realized just how tired I felt. And for some reason, every time I think, hear or say - I'm tired - a classic western movie comes to mind. Any guesses which one? To me it's a great comedy because no matter how tired or down I feel, if I watch it for a few minutes I wind up smiling, laughing and feeling better. Did you guess which one? It's Blazing Saddles.

The phrase, I'm tired, always makes me think of the late wonderful Madeline Kahn. I tried to include the video of her singing "I'm Tired" from Blazing Saddles that's on YouTube but there was no code for it. Here's the link to it, just click here and it will take you to the video for a good laugh.

Since I'm tired and it's late, I'll close with this. Please drop back by tomorrow for Sunday Salon when I feature my review of the first book in the new Memphis Barbecue Mystery series by Riley Adams, entitled DELICIOUS AND SUSPICIOUS. I hope my review will wet your appetite for this cozy murder mystery with a touch of Southern delight. The book is scheduled to be released July 6, but can be pre-ordered now from Amazon. 

Be safe, have fun and hope to see ya tomorrow!



 

Guest Blogger, Elizabeth Spann Craig

Please join me in giving a warm welcome to author Elizabeth Spann Craig as the guest blogger here today at Thoughts in Progress.

Elizabeth is the author of “Pretty is as Pretty Dies,” a Myrtle Clover Mystery and the first installment in her barbecue series, “Delicious and Suspicious” is slated for release in July. Elizabeth will be giving away a copy of her book to one lucky person who comments on her post between today and 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 4.

When I asked Elizabeth to guest blog here today, I also ask her to select her own topic.  I wanted to see what creative avenue she would choose. She has chosen one that will not only entertain you, but also enlighten you in the ways of the mystery genre.

Now join me as Elizabeth tells us about, “Nancy, Trixie, Scooby, Miss Marple, and Me.”

Nancy, with her titian hair (I remember looking ‘titian’ up in the dictionary), snazzy convertible, cool friends…and even a boyfriend(!) was the coolest person in the world to the second grade me. She was persistent and smart, inquisitive and brave, loyal—and able to get out of the scariest jams.

I was seven when I started reading mysteries. After Nancy, I flew through the whole Trixie Belden series, before moving on to Agatha Christie’s books. 

Even my TV viewing reflected my pull to the genre…Scooby Doo anyone? Scooby was actually a pretty amazing sleuth with the right motivation (Scooby Snacks.) 

What I learned from my mystery solving gang:

Sidekicks make you stronger: Nancy Drew, Carolyn Keene.  Nancy had a nose for trouble.  Although she’d get herself into jams, George and Bess were soon on the scene with some help.  And her friends were always there to bounce ideas off of.

Settings are important.  Miss Marple, Agatha Christie.  The village provided the perfect backdrop for murder.   With a limited number of suspects, the murderer was bound to be someone
everybody knew. And the reader was always reminded—danger is everywhere.  Even in small towns.

Crime investigation makes you a target. Scooby Doo.  Someone or something was always after those meddling kids.  And the chase sequences made me tune in week after week.

Flawed protagonists are fun.  Trixie Belden, Kathryn Kenny. Trixie had a temper. Trixie was impetuous.  Trixie didn’t follow directions.  Did I mention how many years I enjoyed hanging out with Trixie in books?

No forensics are required. Miss Marple, Agatha Christie. A sleuth needs only a well-developed knowledge of human nature to connect the dots and solve the crime.

An innocuous appearance doesn’t hurt if you’re a sleuth. In fact, you can fly under the radar a lot easier.  Nancy, Trixie, Scooby, and Miss Marple. So, would you take teenage girls, an elderly lady, or a Great Dane seriously?  Neither did the authorities or the bad guys…something they regretted later.

These series not only made me an avid fan, but  also motivated me to try writing the genre myself—and taught me a lot about the components of fun, successful mysteries.

Elizabeth, I would have never thought of putting those characters together in a group but they make a wonderful combination. They are also great inspiration for the mystery genre. Elizabeth will be dropping back by during the day to answer any questions you might have and respond to your comments.

Now for a little background on her. Elizabeth’s “Pretty is as Pretty Dies” book was released in August 2009 by Midnight Ink. “Delicious and Suspicious” (written under her pseudonym Riley Adams) will be released July 2010 by Penguin. Elizabeth can be found at her blog Mystery Writing Is Murder and she is also a contributed to Mystery Lover’s Kitchen, as well as several other blogs.

Did anyone inspire you when you were younger to write mysteries. What are your thoughts on this sleuthing group? Be sure to leave a comment or question for Elizabeth for a chance to win a copy of her book.