Scan barcode
superwritermom's review against another edition
Okay, so really a 4.5.
If you loved Cherry Tucker before, you're still going to love this book. I'm just mad at Reinhart for the love triangle business. All the rest of you are going to love it. I'm just an impatient woman who has her favorite man already picked out.
So, here's the deal: there's a Brunswick Stew competition where Cherry is--once again--a starving artist. (Aside: I love how Cherry is always literally starving. It's a nice running gag/metaphor) Her friend Eloisa drops dead. Was it her chronic illness? Her boyfriend's fitness punch? Or did someone spike the Brunswick Stew in a very bad way?
Cherry, of course, has to get involved, much to the chagrin of her Uncle Will and her boyfriend, Deputy Luke Harper. And it's not just about the stew. One of my favorite characters, the Russian of questionable scruples, Max, is running a bingo game that caters to little old ladies and has airheaded hottie Todd doing something (?). Gramps has a new lady in his life, badge bunnies are bringing Luke barbecue (Best. Metaphor. Ever.), Cherry is procrastinating on yet another art project, and Shawna is, well, Shawna.
All in all, a great southern mystery. But I do request more Tater (the goat) for the next one. Did I mention there's a cliffhanger? Yeah. Read this one, and you'll be reading the next one, too.
If you loved Cherry Tucker before, you're still going to love this book. I'm just mad at Reinhart for the love triangle business. All the rest of you are going to love it. I'm just an impatient woman who has her favorite man already picked out.
So, here's the deal: there's a Brunswick Stew competition where Cherry is--once again--a starving artist. (Aside: I love how Cherry is always literally starving. It's a nice running gag/metaphor) Her friend Eloisa drops dead. Was it her chronic illness? Her boyfriend's fitness punch? Or did someone spike the Brunswick Stew in a very bad way?
Cherry, of course, has to get involved, much to the chagrin of her Uncle Will and her boyfriend, Deputy Luke Harper. And it's not just about the stew. One of my favorite characters, the Russian of questionable scruples, Max, is running a bingo game that caters to little old ladies and has airheaded hottie Todd doing something (?). Gramps has a new lady in his life, badge bunnies are bringing Luke barbecue (Best. Metaphor. Ever.), Cherry is procrastinating on yet another art project, and Shawna is, well, Shawna.
All in all, a great southern mystery. But I do request more Tater (the goat) for the next one. Did I mention there's a cliffhanger? Yeah. Read this one, and you'll be reading the next one, too.
melinamason's review against another edition
5.0
Wow!! What a ride. I read the first Cherry Tucker Mystery, Portrait of a Dead Guy, but this one was the best. This book grabbed my attention from the very beginning and kept it through the whole book. Cherry was relentless in trying to find out what happened to her best friend, Eloise. This shows true friendship. She didn't even care if she made her cop boyfriend, Luke, mad in the process. She also gets herself into some dangerous and humorous scraps at times. I guess I can relate a lot to Cherry because I live in an area that is really similar to the where she lives, we are both country girls! This cozy had everything that makes a great cozy; humor, food, intrigue, and it kept me guessing till the very end. Very good job. Can't wait to read the next in the Cherry Tucker series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book for my honest review.
carolsnotebook's review against another edition
4.0
The Brunswick Stew Cook-Off is a major draw at the annual festival in Sidewinder, Georgia where Cherry, a painter, and her friend Eloise Parker, who makes Raku pottery, have set up an art booth. It's not a good day. A bunch of people end up with food poisoning and it kills Eloise. Cherry, of course, is convinced it wasn't an accident and is determined to figure out who killed Eloise.
The mystery is not the strongest part of the book. I guessed who the killer was fairly early, but really didn't care so much. The characters and the small-town antics are what drives the book. Cherry is a mess, but likable. She's broke, her love life's a disaster, her truck is falling apart, and she has a big mouth that gets her in plenty of trouble. She's also loyal and caring and not afraid of a fight. She's surrounded by family, friends, an ex-husband, the standard cop boyfriend, and a stubborn goat. Add in a crooked bingo game, a rival artist, and a potential gallery exhibit and Cherry has a lot to handle. And I can't say that she does it with grace and competence. She does not. She gets punched, flashes the church crowd, and ends up kissing her ex.
Still Life in Brunswick Stew is a lot of fun and had me laughing out loud. It can be a bit over the top but that's part of its charm.
The mystery is not the strongest part of the book. I guessed who the killer was fairly early, but really didn't care so much. The characters and the small-town antics are what drives the book. Cherry is a mess, but likable. She's broke, her love life's a disaster, her truck is falling apart, and she has a big mouth that gets her in plenty of trouble. She's also loyal and caring and not afraid of a fight. She's surrounded by family, friends, an ex-husband, the standard cop boyfriend, and a stubborn goat. Add in a crooked bingo game, a rival artist, and a potential gallery exhibit and Cherry has a lot to handle. And I can't say that she does it with grace and competence. She does not. She gets punched, flashes the church crowd, and ends up kissing her ex.
Still Life in Brunswick Stew is a lot of fun and had me laughing out loud. It can be a bit over the top but that's part of its charm.
erinnejc's review against another edition
3.0
Another good story in this series, great characters and writing as always.
raeanne's review against another edition
5.0
I do love Cherry Tucker and her series. It's a perfect cozy mystery: small town, plucky and nozy protagonist playing detective, spunky cast, drama, and a solid mystery. I also find her and her crew hilarious.
The only thing annoying about her is her thoughts on being a slave to her hormones and blaming her relationship problems on them, which came from her mom the slut. Ugh.
The only thing annoying about her is her thoughts on being a slave to her hormones and blaming her relationship problems on them, which came from her mom the slut. Ugh.
bookwyrm_lark's review against another edition
4.0
Review originally published at The Bookwyrm's Hoard.
Still Life in Brunswick Stew is a fast and fun read that takes you into small-town Georgia. I liked Cherry; she's feisty and smart-mouthed and fiercely determined to figure out why and how her friend Elise died. There's the usual mix of cheerfully and not-so-cheerfully eccentric characters, including Cherry's siblings and several of the suspects. And there's a not-quite-love-triangle going on between Cherry, her gorgeous deputy boyfriend Luke, and her friend and kinda-sorta ex-husband (Vegas wedding, instantly regretted and annulled) Todd. Reinhart nails the rhythm and flow of Southern speech; I could hear Cherry's voice and most of the others in my head as I was reading. If you enjoy your cozy mysteries Southern-style, Larissa Reinhart's Cherry Tucker Mysteries belong on your TBR shelf.
FTC disclosure: I received a review copy as part of a blog tour, in exchange for an honest review.
Still Life in Brunswick Stew is a fast and fun read that takes you into small-town Georgia. I liked Cherry; she's feisty and smart-mouthed and fiercely determined to figure out why and how her friend Elise died. There's the usual mix of cheerfully and not-so-cheerfully eccentric characters, including Cherry's siblings and several of the suspects. And there's a not-quite-love-triangle going on between Cherry, her gorgeous deputy boyfriend Luke, and her friend and kinda-sorta ex-husband (Vegas wedding, instantly regretted and annulled) Todd. Reinhart nails the rhythm and flow of Southern speech; I could hear Cherry's voice and most of the others in my head as I was reading. If you enjoy your cozy mysteries Southern-style, Larissa Reinhart's Cherry Tucker Mysteries belong on your TBR shelf.
FTC disclosure: I received a review copy as part of a blog tour, in exchange for an honest review.
brokebybooks's review against another edition
5.0
I do love Cherry Tucker and her series. It's a perfect cozy mystery: small town, plucky and nozy protagonist playing detective, spunky cast, drama, and a solid mystery. I also find her and her crew hilarious.
The only thing annoying about her is her thoughts on being a slave to her hormones and blaming her relationship problems on them, which came from her mom the slut. Ugh.
The only thing annoying about her is her thoughts on being a slave to her hormones and blaming her relationship problems on them, which came from her mom the slut. Ugh.
maggietoussaint55's review against another edition
5.0
Cherry Tucker is a starving artist with a history of helping friends, especially those from the other side of the tracks. Her best friend, Eloise, convinces her to exhibit at the Sidewinder Annual Brunswick Stew Cook-Off, but the event nets no sales. Worse, Eloise sickens, is transported to the hospital, and dies.
Turns out, a slew of folks have food poisoning, though only two people die. Cherry is determined to get to the bottom of this mystery because she believes it’s no accident. Someone murdered Eloise and by God they will pay.
Red herrings and suspects abound, making this book a delight to mystery readers. Cherry turns a deaf ear to the cops, including her uncle and her current boyfriend, and presses forward. A delightful romp of southern fun, feminine sass, and outright zaniness that had me laughing out loud.
Turns out, a slew of folks have food poisoning, though only two people die. Cherry is determined to get to the bottom of this mystery because she believes it’s no accident. Someone murdered Eloise and by God they will pay.
Red herrings and suspects abound, making this book a delight to mystery readers. Cherry turns a deaf ear to the cops, including her uncle and her current boyfriend, and presses forward. A delightful romp of southern fun, feminine sass, and outright zaniness that had me laughing out loud.