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A review by kimdavishb
A Cookbook Conspiracy by Kate Carlisle
5.0
I love books, especially mysteries and cookbooks, so when I came across A COOKBOOK CONSPIRACY, the seventh book in the Bibliophile Mystery series by Kate Carlisle, I was sure I had found the best of both worlds. Brooklyn Wainwright restores books and manuscripts for a living and when her chef sister, Savannah, brings her a cookbook from the 18th century to restore, she is thrilled. However, Savannah is planning on giving the valuable historical cookbook to her ex-boyfriend, celebrity chef Baxter Cromwell. Baxter’s ego is as large as his fame and Brooklyn is afraid he won’t appreciate or treasure the gift. Savannah argues that Baxter is the one who gave her the book in the first place, so it rightfully belongs to him now that they are no longer an “item”.
To celebrate the opening of his new San Francisco restaurant, Baxter has invited Savannah along with some of their fellow Cordon Bleu culinary school graduates to be guest chefs. Savannah invites Brooklyn and her boyfriend, Derek Stone, to attend the dinner. When Savannah presents the restored cookbook to Baxter, Brooklyn is appalled that not only does Baxter not appreciate the gift, he is angry that her sister gave it to him. Savannah, needless to say, is very upset and later when Brooklyn and Derek return to the restaurant to pick her up, find Baxter murdered with Savannah standing over him clutching a bloody knife. In addition to the dead chef the valuable cookbook is also missing.
The police have every reason to think Savannah could be the murderer but Brooklyn is just as certain of her sister’s innocence. Brooklyn begins asking questions, digging deeper into the secrets Baxter and Savannah’s chef friends seem to be hiding. She finds that all of them had reasons to hate Baxter and when another chef is found murdered Brooklyn knows she must solve the case before there is another victim.
A COOKBOOK CONSPIRACY did not disappoint. The murder mystery and the disappearance of the historical cookbook were skillfully woven together and kept me turning the pages late into the night. In addition to providing some information on restoring books, Kate provides a few recipes at the back of the book as well, including an historical recipe for Syllabub. While I found it very interesting to read about Syllabub (and want to try it one of these days), I opted instead to try Brooklyn’s Mom’s Crazy Delicious Apple Crisp recipe. Oh my goodness, absolutely delicious as was the book!
To celebrate the opening of his new San Francisco restaurant, Baxter has invited Savannah along with some of their fellow Cordon Bleu culinary school graduates to be guest chefs. Savannah invites Brooklyn and her boyfriend, Derek Stone, to attend the dinner. When Savannah presents the restored cookbook to Baxter, Brooklyn is appalled that not only does Baxter not appreciate the gift, he is angry that her sister gave it to him. Savannah, needless to say, is very upset and later when Brooklyn and Derek return to the restaurant to pick her up, find Baxter murdered with Savannah standing over him clutching a bloody knife. In addition to the dead chef the valuable cookbook is also missing.
The police have every reason to think Savannah could be the murderer but Brooklyn is just as certain of her sister’s innocence. Brooklyn begins asking questions, digging deeper into the secrets Baxter and Savannah’s chef friends seem to be hiding. She finds that all of them had reasons to hate Baxter and when another chef is found murdered Brooklyn knows she must solve the case before there is another victim.
A COOKBOOK CONSPIRACY did not disappoint. The murder mystery and the disappearance of the historical cookbook were skillfully woven together and kept me turning the pages late into the night. In addition to providing some information on restoring books, Kate provides a few recipes at the back of the book as well, including an historical recipe for Syllabub. While I found it very interesting to read about Syllabub (and want to try it one of these days), I opted instead to try Brooklyn’s Mom’s Crazy Delicious Apple Crisp recipe. Oh my goodness, absolutely delicious as was the book!