Review: If Cooks Could Kill

If Cooks Could Kill Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
JoAnne Pence
Class/Genre: Mystery Amateur Sleuth Culinary
Series: Angelina Amalfi # 10
January 2003, 302 pages

Angie Amalfi is engaged to San Francisco Homicide Inspector Paavo Smith. Her friend Connie Rogers has been set up on a blind date with Dennis Pagozzi, San Francisco 49ers defensive end, by his uncle Butch. She is to meet him at Wings of an Angel restaurant, owned by Butch and Vinnie. Earl is the maitre'd.

Dennis does not show up for their date. Max Squire comes in looking for Dennis. Max looks like a homeless man. Earl tries to keep him from coming in, but Max is determined. When he finds Dennis is not there, he says he'll wait. Connie can see that Max probably hasn't eaten much lately so she orders them both dinner.

After dinner they go their separate ways. Then Connie turns around to see if Max needs a ride somewhere. She finds him laying on the sidewalk. She takes him to her apartment where he sleeps on her couch. She still cannot figure out how someone like Max would know Dennis.

Angie is so happy to be engaged, she starts sending singers, food and gifts to Paavo at the homicide squad, at crime scenes, wherever she can. He is mortified by this but won't tell her. His boss finally asks that he stop this because no one in the squad is working. They're all waiting for the daily delivery.

Veronica Maple is released from prison. Three years ago she had swindled Max, then a stockbroker, and his clients out of millions. She comes back to see Dennis to get the money.

She also goes to see Sidney Fernandez (El Toro) and his associate Julius Rodriguez. Sidney has set up a diamond robbery for Veronica to pull off.

Things get dicey from here. Max is unaware Veronica is back. Something goes wrong and El Toro doesn't get the diamonds. Then Veronica ends up dead. Connie is charged with the diamond robbery and the death of a courier.

Paavo and Angie, with some help from Connie, work to clear Connie and find out who the real thief and murderer are.

The characters in this series are terrific. Angie is a lot of fun. Paavo is more reserved but very much in love with Angie. They make a great pair.

Connie is Angie's best friend. It is fun seeing them work to get Connie out of hot water. The things Angie gets these two into are unbelievable.

There are recipes at the end of the book as well. Angie is a great cook and food writer but currently unemployed. This makes this series even more enjoyable.

The other characters in this book are very well written as well. The plot is very complicated at times but in the end it is sewn up so the reader knows exactly what was going on.

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Dawn Dowdle

Book Review: If Cooks Could Kill