Book Review: Simmer Down

Reviewed By: Shirley - RAM

Simmer Down     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Jessica Conant-Park , Susan Conant
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Culinary   Cozy   Chick Lit
Series: Gourmet Girl Mysteries # 2
Berkley Prime Crime

In Boston Chloe Adler is watching her boyfriend Josh prepare for the opening of a new upscale restaurant. Josh will be executive chef responsible for hiring staff, procuring food, designing a menu and assisting with remodeling. Chloe is studying social work as a grad student and is interning at an organization fighting workplace harassment.

An upcoming charity event pairs social service agencies with restaurants in local art galleries. Chloe¹s agency and Josh¹s restaurant have managed to be paired at the Eliot Davis Gallery. The night of the event someone is killed by a kitchen appliance.

If you want to know about social work or chefs, it¹s in there. But all those details slow the story. I found too much meandering thought and too little action. From Chloe we get so many silly ideas put forward to wrongly point suspicion at nearly everyone that she comes across as a bit of an airhead. When the killer is finally discovered the long explanation does little to explain motive. With recipes included, this book might appeal to foodies.

Shirley - RAM

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Shirley - RAM