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readwritelib's review
4.0
Not my favorite or the series so far but still excellent. Love the sister dynamic and all the characters feel real. Fun and a great mystery, per usual.
jbarr5's review
5.0
Killer Crust by Chris Cavender
Sisters Maddie and Ellie run A Slice of Delight Pizzeria. One of their arch enemies Laughing Luggi has given them a chance to win 25k by competing against others at the new resort in town to promote his company and the new resort, Timber Ridge.
There are many stipulations and others have been cheated out of even competing. They must spend a few days at the resort, his expense but their boyfriend and lawyer husband Bob can join them at meals. They've met the other 3 couples who are all from NC also.
When Luigi gets murdered and the contest will continue they are asked by Kevin the cop to help solve the mystery. They had prior knowledge to a lot by just talking to others at meal time and before going to their rooms. They move into one of the luxury rooms as it has 2 bedrooms and they can compare notes and go about their next task.
They are also able to get help from Gina who they know from the area and her uncle has financed the huge luxury resort for her to run.
Many others think the contest is rigged and others think the judges have been paid off. They learn much with help from others and find themselves in digger than they could ever imagine...
Recipes at the end. First book I've read by Chris and I can't wait to read more of them.
Sisters Maddie and Ellie run A Slice of Delight Pizzeria. One of their arch enemies Laughing Luggi has given them a chance to win 25k by competing against others at the new resort in town to promote his company and the new resort, Timber Ridge.
There are many stipulations and others have been cheated out of even competing. They must spend a few days at the resort, his expense but their boyfriend and lawyer husband Bob can join them at meals. They've met the other 3 couples who are all from NC also.
When Luigi gets murdered and the contest will continue they are asked by Kevin the cop to help solve the mystery. They had prior knowledge to a lot by just talking to others at meal time and before going to their rooms. They move into one of the luxury rooms as it has 2 bedrooms and they can compare notes and go about their next task.
They are also able to get help from Gina who they know from the area and her uncle has financed the huge luxury resort for her to run.
Many others think the contest is rigged and others think the judges have been paid off. They learn much with help from others and find themselves in digger than they could ever imagine...
Recipes at the end. First book I've read by Chris and I can't wait to read more of them.
bkread2's review
1.0
Where did all the fun magic go?! Not sure, but this story was a big disappointment after all the others in this series!
cj_mo_2222's review
4.0
Eleanor Swift, who runs a small North Carolina pizzeria with her sister Maddy, doesn't trust her old nemesis Laughing Luigi any more than she used to. However, when Luigi offers her a spot in a pizza-making competition his pizza dough company is sponsoring, she just can't turn down a chance to win $25,000.
I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. This installment is much improved over earlier books in this series. The dialogue is much more natural, even though conversations between Eleanor and her boyfriend seem a bit stilted and formal. Other than that, the book moved quickly and was fun to read. I was interested in the pizza-making contest and it provided a great setting for Eleanor and Maddy to investigate the murder of Luigi. The other contestants all had their own issues, which added to the story and made the investigation more interesting. Everything was wrapped up nicely, and realistically, by the end of the book. I will be following this series in the future to see what is in store for Eleanor and Maddy. Fans of Joanne Fluke or Tim Myers will enjoy this book.
I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. This installment is much improved over earlier books in this series. The dialogue is much more natural, even though conversations between Eleanor and her boyfriend seem a bit stilted and formal. Other than that, the book moved quickly and was fun to read. I was interested in the pizza-making contest and it provided a great setting for Eleanor and Maddy to investigate the murder of Luigi. The other contestants all had their own issues, which added to the story and made the investigation more interesting. Everything was wrapped up nicely, and realistically, by the end of the book. I will be following this series in the future to see what is in store for Eleanor and Maddy. Fans of Joanne Fluke or Tim Myers will enjoy this book.
luffy79's review
5.0
Amazing reading experience, delightfully stunned number one Chris Cavender fan here. This book gets a perfect score, just like its four predecessors. There's more than usual going on in the book and it might just be the best in the series.
We get to learn more about Eleanor Swift and her younger sister Maddy Spencer. The thing is Eleanor is not really a goody two shoes character all of the time. This touch is subtle and don't we know it. Everyone must have noticed most of the nice hints that build the world of Timber Ridge and everyone living in it. The climax is better than any other and I was glad that Maddy gets a taste of the action. I almost forgot about the self defense measure she took in a previous book.
As I said the climactic end is very well written but the rest of the book match it. It was fun being introduced to a larger cast of suspects - of the murder of a pizza magnate - and I kept reading on waiting to see how the list would be whittled down to a select few. The location for this drama is an ultra fine hotel and restaurant which sets the stage for some welcome pizza pie making competition and some amateur sleuthing as well. There are people who are nice and others who are not as nice,and it was a treat to read who did what and who might be lying. Eleanor is in this competition and she is getting support from her newish boyfriend, while Maddy's beau Bob is also there. Things are moving nicely because this book mentions only thrice or thereabouts of Joe, the dead husband of Eleanor.
I knew before reading that this book might be a surefire bet for 5 stars and I tried to tone down my expectations and the fact that they were surpassed is wonderful. There is little waffling and rambling - unlike this gushing review! - and those who are fans of this series know what I'm talking about when I say that the economy of words for descriptions make up the sleek silhouette of the book's narrative.
Now a word to those who wonder if they are going to like it. If world building is what you're after then this is not a book for you. If you're into exotic locales and feisty lovemaking then that too is not what this book's about. This book is all about pacing and moodiness and warmth and complicity and a dash of old time mystery. I simply cannot emphasize how rare the page turning quality is. I've read many books recently and this one is the one. I feel just like a Star Wars fan would feel if the prequel trilogy was as good as Empire Strikes Back. Chris Cavender, don't you dare to put a foot wrong. But there simply must be a sixth book and more beyond that too.
I didn't get to nail the guilty this time, unlike the previous three times in the Eleanor Swift series. The guilty one is a male this time and to tell you the truth I was a bit lost in the crowd and who had what alibi. It was great to see Gina in a new setting and I hope she gets an appearance in the next installation. Kevin Hurley, the sheriff, no Chief of Timber Ridge, is slightly less dull but also less threatening. I liked the good people and appreciated how the baddies were portrayed. This book feels like the author is in full control of every element and has improved on each and put the words together to make a harmonious ensemble. I was tempted to write "this is a wonderful(50 times) book", but that would be childish. In other words, well, you've already read them.
We get to learn more about Eleanor Swift and her younger sister Maddy Spencer. The thing is Eleanor is not really a goody two shoes character all of the time. This touch is subtle and don't we know it. Everyone must have noticed most of the nice hints that build the world of Timber Ridge and everyone living in it. The climax is better than any other and I was glad that Maddy gets a taste of the action. I almost forgot about the self defense measure she took in a previous book.
As I said the climactic end is very well written but the rest of the book match it. It was fun being introduced to a larger cast of suspects - of the murder of a pizza magnate - and I kept reading on waiting to see how the list would be whittled down to a select few. The location for this drama is an ultra fine hotel and restaurant which sets the stage for some welcome pizza pie making competition and some amateur sleuthing as well. There are people who are nice and others who are not as nice,and it was a treat to read who did what and who might be lying. Eleanor is in this competition and she is getting support from her newish boyfriend, while Maddy's beau Bob is also there. Things are moving nicely because this book mentions only thrice or thereabouts of Joe, the dead husband of Eleanor.
I knew before reading that this book might be a surefire bet for 5 stars and I tried to tone down my expectations and the fact that they were surpassed is wonderful. There is little waffling and rambling - unlike this gushing review! - and those who are fans of this series know what I'm talking about when I say that the economy of words for descriptions make up the sleek silhouette of the book's narrative.
Now a word to those who wonder if they are going to like it. If world building is what you're after then this is not a book for you. If you're into exotic locales and feisty lovemaking then that too is not what this book's about. This book is all about pacing and moodiness and warmth and complicity and a dash of old time mystery. I simply cannot emphasize how rare the page turning quality is. I've read many books recently and this one is the one. I feel just like a Star Wars fan would feel if the prequel trilogy was as good as Empire Strikes Back. Chris Cavender, don't you dare to put a foot wrong. But there simply must be a sixth book and more beyond that too.
I didn't get to nail the guilty this time, unlike the previous three times in the Eleanor Swift series. The guilty one is a male this time and to tell you the truth I was a bit lost in the crowd and who had what alibi. It was great to see Gina in a new setting and I hope she gets an appearance in the next installation. Kevin Hurley, the sheriff, no Chief of Timber Ridge, is slightly less dull but also less threatening. I liked the good people and appreciated how the baddies were portrayed. This book feels like the author is in full control of every element and has improved on each and put the words together to make a harmonious ensemble. I was tempted to write "this is a wonderful(50 times) book", but that would be childish. In other words, well, you've already read them.
lisanhall's review
4.0
I thought this one was pretty good. I liked the setting, and the capsulation of the storyline at the resort and condensing it to a few days. It made for a fast pace that I appreciated. But I just couldn’t get over the complete ineptitude of Kevin Hurley and the police. They didn’t ask for or check the resorts security camera footage for the time of the murder? They didn’t get or verify the alibis of several of the murder suspects until days after the murder? That’s pretty unbelievable.
angrygreycatreads's review
4.0
Killer Crust is book 5 in the Pizza Lovers Mystery series. I read book 1 and really enjoyed it, but when I went to get the next one my library only had book 5 & 6, so I skipped a little. Turns out a lot must have happened in book 2,3, & 4 that I missed. In this outing in the series, Eleanor and Maddie are taking part in a pizza making contest hoping to win $25,000 to invest in the shop. The contest takes place at a resort in town and of course shortly into the contest there is a murder. The murder happens to be Luigi, aka George, the judge and creator of the contest. Maddie and Eleanor begin to investigate with Kevin’s blessing, far different from their relationship with Kevin in book 1.
Even with reading the book out of order I still enjoyed it and the mystery. i liked the fact that it appears that there was definitely growth in the characters as the series progressed. I am sure that I will go back and pick up the other books at some point. Quick, fun cozy mystery read.
Even with reading the book out of order I still enjoyed it and the mystery. i liked the fact that it appears that there was definitely growth in the characters as the series progressed. I am sure that I will go back and pick up the other books at some point. Quick, fun cozy mystery read.
lootsfoz's review
2.0
The story gets three stars, but the book gets two because the "recipe" in it calls for Ragu pizza sauce and Pillsbury crusts.
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