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syringaflower's review
3.0
It was a lot better than the first book, with a better pacing and better scenery.
The one thing missing is scents. I notice that there's barely any mention of scents in this novel.
This is why I took a full star off. It really got on my nerves after some time. Well, that and David. I'm glad he's (seemingly) not going to be an issue in further books anymore, and I'd like to believe that. He's obnoxious.
The one thing missing is scents. I notice that there's barely any mention of scents in this novel.
Spoiler
The other thing I could do without is the repetitive mention of 'my late husband, Joe,' / 'joe' / 'my late husband' or any variant thereof. Mention it to refresh the memory of the readers, and maybe in sentimental moments of quiet reflection, but is it really necessary to continuously mention him? We get it. He's dead. He's been dead for 2 books. He's not coming back alive. Keep it to a minimum, sheesh.This is why I took a full star off. It really got on my nerves after some time. Well, that and David. I'm glad he's (seemingly) not going to be an issue in further books anymore, and I'd like to believe that. He's obnoxious.
marlynb's review
4.0
This is the second of the Pizza Lover's Mysteries. The protagonist, Eleanor Swift is the widowed owner and chef of A Slice of Delight, a small pizzeria in the small town of Timber Ridge, North Carolina.
Eleanor's only employees are her sister, Maddy and a young college student named Greg Hatcher. Greg's grandparents were killed in an explosion the previous year, and their will divided their estate between Greg and his spoiled older brother Wade. But Wade believes he should get 3/4 the$200,000 estate, and is planning a lawsuit to that effect.
Greg shows up at work one day with a bloody nose, received in an altercation with his brother. Late that night, she's awakened by a phone call from the police chief, who asks her to return to her restaurant. Wade's was found on the floor with a bloody rolling pin next to him, and Greg is the chief suspect.
Certain that the young man, whom Eleanor thinks of as family, is innocent, she and Maddy set out to figure out who the real killer is. Their quest is not aided by the fact that Eleanor dated Police Chief Kevin Hurley in high school, and things are still uncomfortable between them. Also, Greg and Wade's mother, learning of their quest, tries to stop Eleanor and Maddy by planting a cockroach in a meal she ordered at their restaurant.
The sisters' quest to clear the name of their employee and friend is very believable; they talk to residents of their town in plausible scenarios. The characters and the relationships between them are also well-drawn.
Chris Cavender is the pen-name for Tim Myers, who writes several other cozy mystery series under his own name and various others. I enjoyed this so much that I'm going to check out some of those other series.
Eleanor's only employees are her sister, Maddy and a young college student named Greg Hatcher. Greg's grandparents were killed in an explosion the previous year, and their will divided their estate between Greg and his spoiled older brother Wade. But Wade believes he should get 3/4 the$200,000 estate, and is planning a lawsuit to that effect.
Greg shows up at work one day with a bloody nose, received in an altercation with his brother. Late that night, she's awakened by a phone call from the police chief, who asks her to return to her restaurant. Wade's was found on the floor with a bloody rolling pin next to him, and Greg is the chief suspect.
Certain that the young man, whom Eleanor thinks of as family, is innocent, she and Maddy set out to figure out who the real killer is. Their quest is not aided by the fact that Eleanor dated Police Chief Kevin Hurley in high school, and things are still uncomfortable between them. Also, Greg and Wade's mother, learning of their quest, tries to stop Eleanor and Maddy by planting a cockroach in a meal she ordered at their restaurant.
The sisters' quest to clear the name of their employee and friend is very believable; they talk to residents of their town in plausible scenarios. The characters and the relationships between them are also well-drawn.
Chris Cavender is the pen-name for Tim Myers, who writes several other cozy mystery series under his own name and various others. I enjoyed this so much that I'm going to check out some of those other series.
hugbandit7's review against another edition
5.0
totally did not see the murderer coming! lots of angles and red herrings
jkillingbeck_8's review against another edition
3.0
Good mystery, but I still have problems with the main character. She's rude and mean, with a chip on her shoulder, for no apparent reason. At least with the main characters in the other food mystery books, I don't dislike the main character who tells the story.
luffy79's review
5.0
This is the book that set me on my way to solving mysteries. I never did or could. But after reading the third book in the series, something clicked and I could solve, potentially, any mystery. Here the story revolves around the body found in the pizzeria and the suspect being one of the employers who is also the victim's brother. I remember this book dimly but it made a great impression on me. Hence the score.
dizzy_booknerd's review
4.0
A nice light, suspenseful murder mystery that kept me entertained. And I didn't suspect who the killer was! =p
jkillingbeck_8's review
3.0
Good mystery, but I still have problems with the main character. She's rude and mean, with a chip on her shoulder, for no apparent reason. At least with the main characters in the other food mystery books, I don't dislike the main character who tells the story.
angrygreycatreads's review
4.0
I just finished this, the second book in the Pizza Lovers Mystery series by Chris Cavender. Eleanor Swift owns a Pizzaria that she started with her now deceased husband. She employs her sister, Maddy, and a couple other recurring characters. One of them becomes the chief suspect in a murder investigation and Eleanor works through the book to clear his name. There were plentiful suspects throughout the story and more than one crime to muddy the water. The characters in this series are nicely fleshed out, the setting feels realistic and the story line has enough twists and turns to keep you guessing. Very enoyable cozy, I have already bought number 3 in the series to read.
quinnster's review
3.0
I like the relationship between Eleanor and Maggie, but Eleanor kind of gets on my nerves sometimes. I don't even understand why the love interest was ever introduced and why it was a part of this book! The murder was entertaining (that sounds so bad!) but everything is over the top.