Murder for the Halibut

Title: Murder for the Halibut

Author: Liz Lipperman aka Elizabeth R. Lipperman aka Lizbeth Lipperman 

Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime Mystery

Series: Clueless Cook Mystery, Bk 3

ISBN: 9780425251829

Pages: 278 + Recipes

Obtained: Library copy

Why this book?:

It was the next in the series.

Comments:

This time around Jordan is judging fancy cuisine on a cruise.  She's worried she can't pull it off, but that doesn't seem to be such a big concern considering the deaths that start happening from the very first round.  And of course Jordan must figure out what's going on around her.

I enjoy this series, and this was a nice development in Jordan's career and life.  But I did find an aspect that was awkward and, to me, gave away the murderer.  I hesitate to say outright - I don't want to give the mystery away for anyone else - but it was a repeated phrasing that I assume was there to deflect suspicion.

According to the author's website, it appears the next book in the series is Chicken Caccia-Killer.  I intend to keep up with this series as well as starting Lizbeth Lipperman's Dead Sister Talking Mystery series.

Cozy Cull [7] - Beef Stolen-Off by Liz Lipperman

According to Merriam-Webster:

Definition of CULL

1 : to select from a group : choose  

2 : to reduce or control the size of (as a herd) by removal (as by hunting) of especially weaker animals; also : to hunt or kill (animals) as a means of population control

This is a (semi-)weekly giveaway.  Please spread the word, even if you've already read this week's book. 

The plan is:

1. Each week I read one of the MANY cozy mysteries I have among my personal books.  
2. I write a post about it. 
3. Then I offer it in a giveaway in order to cull my "herd" of cozies... as "a means of population control."

This week I have a copy of the second in the Clueless Cook Mystery series, Beef Stolen-Off, by Liz Lipperman (published July 2012).  

Click on the links to find my thoughts on Liver Let Die (Clueless Cook Mystery, Bk 1) and/or Beef Stolen-Off.

From Goodreads: 

As the food columnist for The Ranchero Globe, Jordan McAllister catches the eye of cattle baron Lucas Santana, who invites her to the Cattleman's Ball, hoping a positive review from the ball might boost the county's sagging beef sales.

To ensure Jordan enjoys herself, Santana sets her up with a prime cowboy companion for the event--Rusty Morales. Jordan's delighted to go with him and two-step the night away. But instead, she winds up in the emergency room where her date is DOA.

When Rusty's mother begs her for help, Jordan knows she needs to grab the bull by the horns and get to the bottom of this mystery before she corrals herself into trouble...

INCLUDES RECIPES!

Just comment that you'd like to enter and provide an email address to contact you should you win. Open to everyone (includes international). 

Giveaway ends Thursday, January 24th (11:59 pm CT). I'll give the winner 48 hours from the time of notification to respond before I move on to someone else. The winner will be announced here once I've received a reply to my email.

This week's winner is Jane!

Beef Stolen-Off

Title: Beef Stolen-Off

Author: Liz Lipperman aka Elizabeth R. Lipperman

Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime

Series: Clueless Cook Mystery, Bk 2

ISBN: 9780425251423

Pages: 276 + Recipes

Obtained: Purchased from library booksale room.

Comments:

Once I read the first book in this series, Liver Let Die, I wanted to read this one.  It took me awhile to get my hands on it, but once I did I zipped through it.

Jordan now officially has the food column in her paper (as well as the personals) complete with some (few) perks and a (slight) pay raise.   To go with this permanent promotion, she has to deal with some less than ideal situations.  Like dealing with a known womanizer (which is uncomfortable), oh and some murder (I'm sure you can imagine this isn't especially ideal).

I'm not sure what exactly draws me to this series.  Maybe it's that I'm just about as clueless as Jordan when it comes to cooking (not quite - I can follow a recipe, I just don't choose to).  Or perhaps there's something else in the writing that I just can't name.  But I found this to be a fun addition to what seems to be a fun series.

Now I just have to get my hands on the third book, Murder for the Halibut.

Cozying up with some mysteries...

Button Holed by Kylie Logan (Connie Laux, Casey Daniels, Miranda Bliss, Connie Lane, Connie Deka) (Button Box Mystery, Bk 1) (library copy) -

I have to admit I found Josie's button obsession kinda weird (which is really saying something).  But overall, I enjoyed the story and I am looking forward to trying the next in the series, Hot Button.

Liver Let Die by Liz Lipperman (Clueless Cook, Bk 1) (library copy) -

I connected with Jordan McAllister, Clueless Cook, in a couple ways: She starts with what she can find in the field she's interested in even when it's the bottom, then moves up to something better but still not quite there.  I started as a page and have moved up to clerk, but still haven't reached librarian level.  The other area of commonality is the not into cooking part.  I look forward to reading more of Jordan's adventures.

Shoulder Bags and Shootings
and
Clutches and Curses

by Dorothy Howell (Haley Randolph, Bk 3 and 4) (library copies) -

Haley Randolph baffles me.  Her work ethic is so ... nonexistent, which I absolutely can't understand (Not that I'm like co-worker Christy in Shoulder Bags and Shootings.  I would probably find that as obnoxious and annoying as Haley did).  Nor do I understand the lack of concern over the debt she has built up (I have student loans to pay and I can't stand them).

All that on top of not understanding her shopping addiction (I HATE shopping)... and yet I still enjoy these books.  I look forward to book 5 in the series, Tote Bags and Toe Tags.  I also need to look into the ebook short "Slay Bells and Satchels" ... I think I may already have it.  Otherwise I'll need to look into buying it **grumbles**.

After mentioning in my post about The Roman Hat by Ellery Queen that I might watch the Ellery Queen Mysteries DVD, I recieved some encouragement to move forward with this idea. I haven't gotten very far yet, but I have started. The main thing I'm noticing now has more to do with the actors than the story. Ellery Queen is played by Jim Hutton. I love the show Leverage which stars (among others) Timothy Hutton, Jim Hutton's son. As I watch Jim Hutton act I keep seeing these expressions I'm used to seeing in his son, and it's cracking me up. Anyway, more on my impressions later, as I get further into the show...