The Uninvited Corpse

April 1, 2018

Food blogger Hope Early turns amateur sleuth in this debut cozy. Hope's sister, Claire, crashes Audrey Bloom's book launch and spring garden tour, but it is Hope who finds the body of another uninvited guest, realtor Peaches McCoy. The investigating police detective focuses on Claire as the primary suspect because she and Peaches were professional rivals, and Claire had just threatened to "kill" Peaches. Even another murder doesn't exonerate Claire, so Hope resolves to find the actual killer. Although Hope is run off the road and attacked in her own house, she remains unwavering. While the story line is formulaic, Hope is a lively addition to the field, offering an original background as a former magazine editor, an embarrassed reality baking show competitor, and, now, a lifestyles/food blogger. Unlike other detectives in this genre, she's aware of her culpability in endangering herself as she pursues her investigation. The solid supporting cast shows promise for future mysteries. VERDICT Fans of Krista Davis's "Domestic Diva" mysteries will appreciate another detective who specializes in cooking and lifestyle suggestions.--Lesa Holstine, Evansville Vanderburgh P.L., IN

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