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nattyg's review
5.0
Lovely. A long time since I've read a book that proclaimed itself a mystery - this was jaunty, easy to read while keeping me entertained and unable to put down.
marlynb's review
3.0
The concept of vampires moving openly in society (though of course, not in broad daylight) is a popular one in recent times. The idea that they might want to dine on something besides blood, whether real or synthetic, is not. In Sarah Zettel's world, vampires also find nourishment in broth, eggs and milk, and "haute noir" dining is starting to become popular. Menu items for the undead in our heroine Chef Charlotte Caine's restaurant include chicken-miso broth, pumpkin soup with a foamed raw veal sauce (or crème fraiche for humans), and a Special Blend sangria.
Charlotte and her undead brother Chet have recently started the after-dark restaurant they call "Nightlife", and on the evening that we meet them, a vamp food critic by the name of Anatole Sevarin has unexpectedly come in. Charlotte is, of course, excited and nervous, so she is understandably vexed when one of the human customers complains about her meal and asks to see the chef.
After a sequence of events during which a young warlock (male witches are called warlocks in this world - hey, it's her world, she can call them what she wants!) enters and unsuccessfully tries to get the fussing woman to leave with him, then throws a fireball and sets off the sprinkler system, Charlotte looks around to find that the critic has vanished.
Returning the next morning after a visit to the farmer's market, Charlotte is somewhat surprised to find the corpse of the warlock lying inside the door. Charlotte takes this personally, since as the scene of a murder, her restaurant will be closed for an unspecified length of time. Since she has nothing else to do, Charlotte decides to find out who killed Dylan Maddox and why he was left in her restaurant.
This is a fine addition to the new-ish mystery genre of "paranormal cozies". It's easy to identify with Charlotte, and not just because the story is written in the first person from her point of view. Zettel is very good at putting the reader into the chef's skin, while at the same time, providing enough perspective to notice things that she doesn't.
The book includes a preview of the next in the series, Let Them Eat Stake, due in April 2012, but no recipes for vamp-friendly cuisine.
Charlotte and her undead brother Chet have recently started the after-dark restaurant they call "Nightlife", and on the evening that we meet them, a vamp food critic by the name of Anatole Sevarin has unexpectedly come in. Charlotte is, of course, excited and nervous, so she is understandably vexed when one of the human customers complains about her meal and asks to see the chef.
After a sequence of events during which a young warlock (male witches are called warlocks in this world - hey, it's her world, she can call them what she wants!) enters and unsuccessfully tries to get the fussing woman to leave with him, then throws a fireball and sets off the sprinkler system, Charlotte looks around to find that the critic has vanished.
Returning the next morning after a visit to the farmer's market, Charlotte is somewhat surprised to find the corpse of the warlock lying inside the door. Charlotte takes this personally, since as the scene of a murder, her restaurant will be closed for an unspecified length of time. Since she has nothing else to do, Charlotte decides to find out who killed Dylan Maddox and why he was left in her restaurant.
This is a fine addition to the new-ish mystery genre of "paranormal cozies". It's easy to identify with Charlotte, and not just because the story is written in the first person from her point of view. Zettel is very good at putting the reader into the chef's skin, while at the same time, providing enough perspective to notice things that she doesn't.
The book includes a preview of the next in the series, Let Them Eat Stake, due in April 2012, but no recipes for vamp-friendly cuisine.
literary__escapism's review
4.0
In the first book in the Vampire Chef Mysteries, Charlotte Caine is the co-owner of the restaurant Nightlife. She wants no more in life than the make sure her restaurant is a success and keep her vampire brother out of trouble. However when a drunk customer causes a stir, right in front of a popular food critic, Charlotte doesn't think life can go downhill. However things go from bad to worse when the customer turns up dead and her vampire brother is under suspicion for murder.
I haven't read the many cozy mysteries with paranormal creatures like vampires and werewolves, so I was really keen to pick up this series when I discovered it at a library book sale. I liked the premise that the paranormals have come "out" and are part of the greater population. In this way it reminded me a little of the Southern Vampires Mysteries, with paranormals everywhere.
The mystery takes part amongst lots of different restaurants and bars and I liked the culinary cuisine, which was simply mouthwatering! The mystery itself was intriguing as I tried to discover how Charlotte and Chet (her brother) fitted into everything, and even more so how a family of warlocks fitted into the mystery.
If you enjoy paranormals I would highly recommend this one. I intend to pick up the second book in the series, Let Them Eat Stake, and I really hope the author releases more books in the series further down the track.
I haven't read the many cozy mysteries with paranormal creatures like vampires and werewolves, so I was really keen to pick up this series when I discovered it at a library book sale. I liked the premise that the paranormals have come "out" and are part of the greater population. In this way it reminded me a little of the Southern Vampires Mysteries, with paranormals everywhere.
The mystery takes part amongst lots of different restaurants and bars and I liked the culinary cuisine, which was simply mouthwatering! The mystery itself was intriguing as I tried to discover how Charlotte and Chet (her brother) fitted into everything, and even more so how a family of warlocks fitted into the mystery.
If you enjoy paranormals I would highly recommend this one. I intend to pick up the second book in the series, Let Them Eat Stake, and I really hope the author releases more books in the series further down the track.
leland_hw's review
3.0
Pretty cute, I'll likely read more in this series. I could have done without the romance aspect, but...
3 1/2 stars
3 1/2 stars
zeallygreen's review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
renpuspita's review
challenging
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
3,5 stars
Rather than a cozy mystery, A Taste of the Nightlife remind me of urban fantasy novel set in its glory urban fantasy setting, which is circa 2010-2014. This book also written in 2011, and because I read 12 years later, a.k.a 2023, some things feels outdated, like Blackberry, lol. A Taste of the Nightlife is the first installment of Vampire Chef Mystery series. Introduced Charlotte Caine as a chef of the haute noir cuisine restaurant, Nightlife, that not only cater to human, but also supernatural creature. Like, vampire and the like. Even Charlotte's own brother, Chet, is a vampire. While try to prepare food that will impressed a vampire food critic, Anatole Sevarin, a warlock try to make a ruckus in the restaurant. Said warlock also later found dead in Nightlife, threaten Charlotte's reputation and Chet's, because the warlock found to be drained to death. But Charlotte will find that her reputation is the last thing she need, because apparently Chet hiding something from her and some vampires suddenly find her better dead than living.
The setting of this book remind me of Sookie Stackhouse novel, despite I'm not read the book and watching its series adaption, True Blood. The supernatural creatures are out in the open and human didn't have choice to cohabit with them. Actually, some human also try to bring this other creatures to where they belong, hiding from the plain sight. While the setting is not that unique, the story still interesting. The mystery is well written, although Charlotte seems like a headless chicken in her investigation to solve the murder in her restaurant. I can't help to picture Cate Blanchett as Charlotte, because she will do her justice. Charlotte is stubborn, and apparently a queen in her kitchen, but also have her own moment of vulnerability especially when it comet to Chet. Reader will get to know the background of Chet turning to vampire and how Charlotte still feel responsible about her baby brother. I also like that Charlotte is still human to the end, she's also not immune to the vampire mumbo jumbo aka mind control. Her weapon is only her wits and sassy remarks. Also her cooking ability that in the end will save her from her predicaments.
Not totally cozy, because the stake is high. Like, we talk about money, or blood laundering. Apparently, in the Nightlife world, taking blood from the vein in considered as taboo, although some human want to volunteer. So, the vampire mostly drink animal blood. Also, the romance is one of the focus, since Charlotte not only have one, but two love interests. Yeah, more like love triangle, but the end is not final. It's apparent that Charlotte with one of the love interest, Brendan Maddock, a warlock that also family with the dead warlock in Charlotte's restaurant, is the end game. But I can't help to want to ship Charlotte with Anatole Sevarin. While I can see that Brendan is a save choice (he's a human, although a warlock), Anatole have his own charm. At first, I pictured him like a food critic from Ratatouile's movie. But, turn that he's charming and hot. Like Russian charming. His interaction with Charlotte also seems interesting compared to Brendan's. Yeah, a girl can hope, tho.
With the ups and downs, I still enjoy Charlotte's investigation and adventure in this book. The description of some food is delish, although if there's blood in it, it will maybe make reader squeamish. The villain also cartoonish and 2D, but that's part of the charm. Charlotte and Chet's relationship also in need of amend, because something bad happen between them. All the more reasons to read the next book!
Rather than a cozy mystery, A Taste of the Nightlife remind me of urban fantasy novel set in its glory urban fantasy setting, which is circa 2010-2014. This book also written in 2011, and because I read 12 years later, a.k.a 2023, some things feels outdated, like Blackberry, lol. A Taste of the Nightlife is the first installment of Vampire Chef Mystery series. Introduced Charlotte Caine as a chef of the haute noir cuisine restaurant, Nightlife, that not only cater to human, but also supernatural creature. Like, vampire and the like. Even Charlotte's own brother, Chet, is a vampire. While try to prepare food that will impressed a vampire food critic, Anatole Sevarin, a warlock try to make a ruckus in the restaurant. Said warlock also later found dead in Nightlife, threaten Charlotte's reputation and Chet's, because the warlock found to be drained to death. But Charlotte will find that her reputation is the last thing she need, because apparently Chet hiding something from her and some vampires suddenly find her better dead than living.
The setting of this book remind me of Sookie Stackhouse novel, despite I'm not read the book and watching its series adaption, True Blood. The supernatural creatures are out in the open and human didn't have choice to cohabit with them. Actually, some human also try to bring this other creatures to where they belong, hiding from the plain sight. While the setting is not that unique, the story still interesting. The mystery is well written, although Charlotte seems like a headless chicken in her investigation to solve the murder in her restaurant. I can't help to picture Cate Blanchett as Charlotte, because she will do her justice. Charlotte is stubborn, and apparently a queen in her kitchen, but also have her own moment of vulnerability especially when it comet to Chet. Reader will get to know the background of Chet turning to vampire and how Charlotte still feel responsible about her baby brother. I also like that Charlotte is still human to the end, she's also not immune to the vampire mumbo jumbo aka mind control. Her weapon is only her wits and sassy remarks. Also her cooking ability that in the end will save her from her predicaments.
Not totally cozy, because the stake is high. Like, we talk about money, or blood laundering. Apparently, in the Nightlife world, taking blood from the vein in considered as taboo, although some human want to volunteer. So, the vampire mostly drink animal blood. Also, the romance is one of the focus, since Charlotte not only have one, but two love interests. Yeah, more like love triangle, but the end is not final. It's apparent that Charlotte with one of the love interest, Brendan Maddock, a warlock that also family with the dead warlock in Charlotte's restaurant, is the end game. But I can't help to want to ship Charlotte with Anatole Sevarin. While I can see that Brendan is a save choice (he's a human, although a warlock), Anatole have his own charm. At first, I pictured him like a food critic from Ratatouile's movie. But, turn that he's charming and hot. Like Russian charming. His interaction with Charlotte also seems interesting compared to Brendan's. Yeah, a girl can hope, tho.
With the ups and downs, I still enjoy Charlotte's investigation and adventure in this book. The description of some food is delish, although if there's blood in it, it will maybe make reader squeamish. The villain also cartoonish and 2D, but that's part of the charm. Charlotte and Chet's relationship also in need of amend, because something bad happen between them. All the more reasons to read the next book!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Blood, and Body shaming
supera710's review
3.0
I got A Taste of the Nightlife in a goodreads giveaway. I really enjoyed it! It's about a girl chef, Charlotte, whose brother was turned into a vampire, and they own a restaurant that caters to vampires and humans. It reminded me a little of Dianne Mott Davidson's books about Goldie's Catering. It was a fun read, including romance, mystery and humor. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the books Sarah Zettel comes out with for this series
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