Reviewed By Liz

ISBN 0-44900731-6

This is the first of Ellen Hart’s Culinary Mysteries I have read and, except for a restaurant review in the beginning of the book, there was no other food involved. This book is later in the series and seems to have drifted away from the premise – hardly the first themed series that this has happened to, but a little misleading since the cover plainly states “Culinary Mystery.”

In this book, hotel owner/restaurant reviewer/sleuth Sophie Greenway becomes involved in what is about to be a ghastly mess in her friend Elaine’s family life. Let me start by saying that this book is well thought out and plotted. It also has some interesting (if largely unexplored) characters. However…

This book contains two murdered family members, infidelity in five different relationships, homophobia, sexism, racism, pedophilia, child pornography, three illegitimate children, one fatal car accident, one attempted suicide, blackmail, one attempted murder, two assaults, and lies, deception, and manipulation on the part of pretty much everyone in the story. I don’t recall any cruelty to animals or cannibalism, but I might have missed them. In the end, Elaine’s family is shattered and the only people who are happy are Sophie, her husband Bram, and the murderer. In short, this book is a serious downer.

Now I don’t demand that all of the books I read have happy endings, but I do feel the need to tell readers that a book is as depressing as this one. Why? Because readers have the expectation that they will be entertained, enthralled, mentally stimulated, and even amused. When they finish a book and wonder if slashing their wrists is the next order of business, they will be angry if no one warned them.

Did I guess it? Yes. Will I read another one? Yes. Hart is obviously a good writer and put together a well-constructed book. I will read another one in the hopes that the content isn’t so depressing. Perhaps I will start at the beginning – closer to the culinary theme.

Mystery Book Reviews by Liz at http://reviewedbyliz.com ©2006

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