A review by crafalsk264
Pork Pie Pandemonium by Steve Higgs

adventurous challenging emotional funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

This is my first book written by Steve Higgs. This is surprising only when you realize that he has nine ongoing series and >205 individual titles. This is the first title in the “Albert Smith’s Culinary Capers” Series.

Albert Smith is a recently retired detective superintendent who has an ex-police dog named Rex Harrison “fired” for having an attitude and a fanatical fixation on food items that constitute his raison d'être after the death of his wife. Since he can’t cook he puts together an itinerary for an extended culinary tour of England. His first destination is Melton Mowbray and Agnews Perfect Pork Pie Emporium where he is scheduled to learn to recreate their “Gold Standard“ Pork Pie. The final class is interrupted by the discovery of a human finger atop the meat for one of the participants’ supplies resulting in an investigation by the Police and an escalation of a rivalry with a competitor specializing in an operation focused on quantity rather than the quality of a Gold Standard Pork Pie. Albert and Rex Harrison are drawn in to help out their new friends.

I originally became aware of this book when the cover featuring an adorable version of Rex Harrison. It is always a plus when you have a charismatic animal as a character and Rex Harrison is one of the best I have found in a while. Add in his senior citizen companion and you have a winning combination for a series of 15 culinary adventures. I had a little trouble getting into the book until we got past the setup with its gruesome  kick off. After that, the story begins to focus on the characters and their reactions and relationships. This kept me involved in the story and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I would also recommend the audio version for the portrayal of Rex Harrison. Recommend to readers of cozy mysteries, crime, animals, dogs, contemporary British literature, and food.