Starlight Book Review – Sally Andrew’s Recipes for Love and Murder – Tannie Maria Mystery #1 🇿🇦

Cover of Recipes for Love and Murder (Tannie Maria Mystery #1) by Sally Andrew on a red-orange background | Image Source: Goodreads

World Tour Stellar Reading Challenge – South Africa

3.93/5 I hoped to find a book translated to English from one of the numerous languages spoken in South Africa. So, when the Book Girls Guide mentioned Sally Andrew’s Tannie Maria Mystery Series, the thought of someone with both English and Afrikaans might be the ticket. Also, it pleased me to discover that I could check out the eAudio version of the first in the series, Recipes for Love and Murder, from my library.

Learn more about this SRC by clicking here.

“A bright new talent makes her fiction debut with this first entry in a delicious crime set in rural South Africa—a flavorful blend of The #1 Ladies Detective Agency and Goldie Schulz, full of humor, romance, and recipes and featuring a charming cast of characters… Tannie Maria (Tannie meaning Auntie, the respectful Afrikaans address for a woman older than you) is a middle-aged widow who likes to cook—and eat. She shares her culinary love as a recipe columnist for the local paper—until The Gazette decides its readers are hungrier for advice on matters of the heart rather than ideas for lunch and dinner… Tannie Maria doesn’t like the change, but soon discovers she has a knack—and a passion—for helping people. Of course she shares her recipes and culinary advice whenever she can! Assisting other people with their problems, Tannie Maria is eventually forced to face her own issues, especially when the troubles of those she helps touch on the pain of her past, like a woman desperate to escape her abusive husband… When the woman is murdered, Tannie Maria becomes dangerously entwined in the investigation, despite the best efforts of one striking detective determined to keep her safe. Suddenly, this practical, down-to-earth woman is involved in something much more sinister than perfecting her chocolate cake recipe . . .”

At first, Tannie Maria caught my attention with early lines of Recipes for Love and Murder, talking of how she often mixes her mother’s Afrikaans and her father’s English. Also, the fact that the book provided some of Tannie Maria’s recipes in the back charmed me. The setting, the South African Outback – Klein Karoo, offered further appeal. I found Tannie Maria and her friends both intriguing and sympathetic. I liked the empathy Tannie Maria showed readers of her agony aunt column, a gentleman in particular who mentioned boiling eggs stands out in my mind. South African actress Sandra Prinsloo read the eAudio I checked out and it was a treat to hear her read this. Andrew’s writing and Prinsloo’s narration transported me to the Karoo. Yet, some parts of this book dragged for me – various comedies of errors, Tannie Maria’s misinterpretation of a number of things, and a slew of red herrings crowded this tale. While a delight in some ways, the book left other gaps I wanted filled. Still and all, I recommend this book for readers looking for a side of South Africa they might not otherwise see.

Quotes come from book flaps/cover and are featured on color blocks.

Starlight Book Review – Jane K. Cleland’s Jane Austen’s Lost Letters (Josie Prescott Antiques Mystery #14)

Across the USA Stellar Reading Challenge — Spot #52 — New Hampshire

4/5 Gnomies, I wrap up my personal literary trek in the Across the USA Stellar Reading Challenge (SRC) in New Hampshire. When I took on this SRC, I possessed little idea of what books I might read set in each US spot nor when I would “visit” each place. A Gnomie recommended Jane K. Cleland’s Jane Austen’s Lost Letters, a Josie Prescott Antiques Mystery as something I could read in the Granite State.

“Antiques appraiser Josie Prescott is in the midst of filming a segment for her new television show, Josie’s Antiques, when the assistant director interrupts to let her know she has a visitor. Josie reluctantly pauses production and goes outside, where she finds an elegant older woman waiting to see her… Veronica Sutton introduces herself as an old friend of Josie’s father, who had died twenty years earlier. Veronica seems fidgety, and after only a few minutes, hands Josie a brown paper-wrapped package, about the size of a shoebox, and leaves… Mystified, Josie opens the package, and gasps when she sees what’s inside: a notecard bearing her name—in her father’s handwriting—and a green leather box. Inside the box are two letters in transparent plastic sleeves. The first bears the salutation, “My dear Cassandra,” the latter, “Dearest Fanny.” Both are signed “Jane Austen.” Could her father have really accidentally found two previously unknown letters by one of the world’s most beloved authors—Jane Austen? Reeling, Josie tries to track down Veronica, but the woman has vanished without a trace… Josie sets off on the quest of a lifetime to learn what Veronica knows about her father and to discover whether the Jane Austen letters are real. As she draws close to the truth, she finds herself in danger, and learns that some people will do anything to keep a secret—even kill.”

I admit I’m not much for what I consider “overly descriptive” literature and my initial reaction to this cozy book was just that. I know many readers who just adore details, details, details in their reading. Also, in a “more than one” situation such as series, Cleland and other series writers must navigate how much background to provide readers visiting Josie Prescott’s world for the first time. Nevertheless, once I set aside that first impression, I found a number of things enjoyable about this book. I especially appreciated the map at the front of the book which showed the fictitious Rocky Point, New Hampshire. I liked getting to know Josie and the introduction to Veronica. I hope to try the first in this series in the near future and compare that of #14.

Quotes come from book flaps/cover and are featured on color blocks.

Starlight Book Review – Amy Patricia Meade’s Cookin’ the Books (Tish Tarragon #1)

Across the USA Stellar Reading Challenge — Spot #50 — Virginia

4/5 … And just like that, I’ve hit Spot #50 for the Across the USA Stellar Reading Challenge (SRC). By this point, I’ve read all around the Commonwealth of Virginia, even read a District of Columbia book! Anyhow, it seems I’ve still have an appetite with two food-centric books in a row. For my Old Dominion State read for this SRC, I selected the first in Amy Patricia Meade’s Tish Tarragon Series — Cookin’ the Books upon a Gnomie’s recommendation.

“Letitia ‘Tish’ Tarragon has just moved to Hobson Glen and opened a new restaurant and catering business, Cookin’ the Books Cafe. So when her new landlord, Schulyer Thompson, recommends her to Binnie Broderick, the executive director of the local library, Tish is delighted. Binnie needs a last-minute caterer to create a literary inspired three-course dinner for the library’s annual fundraiser, one of the highlights of Hobson Glen’s social season… But there’s a problem: Binnie Broderick is a notoriously difficult woman to please. And when she chokes to death from arsenic poisoning after dousing her main course in hot sauce, Tish suddenly finds herself fighting to save her business – and her reputation. It seems that very few of Hobson Glen’s residents escaped Binnie’s disapproval. But who would want her dead, and why?”

I honestly feared before reading Cookin’ the Books that I might mix details with another “foodie” mystery. Yet, these books greatly differed. Not only does Cookin’ the Books focuses on Tish who provides customers with delicious food, she also has “literary” themed items on the menu in the delightful town of Hobson Glen, Virginia. As she’s getting established, the reader gets to meet some compelling characters and can’t really blame the true culprit for doing away with Binnie Broderick. The setting intrigued me and I can see myself making another stop at the Cookin’ the Books Cafe in subsequent Tish Tarragon books.

Quotes come from book flaps/cover and are featured on color blocks.